According to FEMA, the 40,000 square feet of leased office space at 10 Jupiter Lane will serve as a central command centre.
The federal agency is reportedly already in the process of moving into the new office space, and eventually as many as 300 employees could work there.
FEMA’s relief efforts after tropical storm Irene are ongoing and it is believed that the new space could be crucial to coordinating the agency’s ongoing efforts.
A notice released to commercial landlords and brokers in the area and obtained by the media read: “This operation will be bringing in at least three hundred people that will also need access to hotel rooms.
“Keep in mind the president, vice president and other high-ranking officials will make visits to this building.”
Irene did close to USD 1 billion worth of damage around New York, much of it caused by the extensive flooding that came with the storm.
In New York, the Hudson River flooded which closed the Holland Tunnel and the Meatpacking District of the city. Additionally, the Ramapo River flooded, causing damage which officials have said will take months to repair.
There were also disastrous flash floods in the northwestern Catskill Mountains and the town of Margaretville was severely damaged.
FEMA was heavily criticised for its handling of the Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans. Many said the agency was slow to act and ineffective in its relief efforts. In particular, the massive amounts of evacuees were said to have completely overwhelmed rescue personnel.
Editor’s notes: As of July 2023, FEMA listed Wade Road in Latham as the site of its Town of Colonie Municipal Training Center.