NORWICH – Citing roughly 800 missed emergency medical calls among local EMS providers in 2024, the Chenango County Office of Emergency Services (OES) is moving on the purchase of another ambulance to lift some burden from surrounding EMS districts.

OES has outlined plans to run an ambulance in the Norwich area by next year to help cover otherwise missed calls in the central part of the county during times when the primary EMS agency is unavailable. According to OES, having the rig stationed in Norwich will allow for more reliable responses in surrounding townships, including Sherburne, New Berlin, McDonough, and Columbus.

The Norwich area will also stay heavily dependent on Norwich EMS, the only other full-time paid department in Chenango County that operates 24/7.

OES currently has two other ambulances stationed in the towns of Afton and South Otselic to support existing EMS providers in the southern and northwestern parts of the county. OES steps in when home agencies are tied up with another call, or may not have staff on duty.

OES Coordinator Matt Beckwith said having another ambulance for his agency isn’t an attempted takeover of other local EMS operations, but to support them.