ALBANY COUNTY — Twenty-four emergency response organizations in Albany County will receive a new radio as part of a system to improve communications.

Senator George Amedore joined Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple on Friday at the Guilderland firehouse to announce that $60,000 from the state’s budget has been allocated for the purchase of 800-megahertz radios, which will allow emergency response organizations to communicate on the countywide interoperable radio system that is currently under development.

Apple announced the $20 million plan for the comprehensive emergency radio service in 2013.

At the time, he said the county’s current radio system was “horrible” and that the improvements would allow for quicker emergency response times and better marshalling of resources.

The interoperable system is necessary if, he said, “God forbid, disaster struck,” in the Capital Region.

The system is being funded with a combination of federal grant money and county funding and is expected to be up and running within the next six months.

Amedore said at the press conference on Friday, held at the Guilderland Fire Department, that the new radios will promote efficiency and improve public safety.

Apple said the radios are expensive, especially for rural districts, and the funding will go a long way toward to making sure each is properly equipped, the release said.

The following departments will each receive one portable 800-megahertz radio: Altamont Fire Department; New Salem Fire Department; Voorheesville Fire Department; Onesquethaw Fire Department; Berne Fire Department; Westerlo Fire Department; Rensselaerville Fire Department; Tri-Village Fire Department; Medusa Fire Department; Helderberg Emergency Response Services; Rensselaerville Emergency Response Services; Voorheesville Emergency Response Services; Westerlo Emergency Response Services; Coeymans Fire Department; Coeymans Hollow Fire Department; Ravena Fire Department; Ravena Emergency Response Services; Slingerlands Fire Department; Guilderland Center Fire District; Guilderland Fire Department; Westmere Fire Department; Fort Hunter Fire Department; and McKownville Fire Department.

— Anne Hayden Harwood