North Shore Ambulance shuts its doors, EMS agencies scramble for long-term plan

CLEVELAND, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — North Shore Ambulance was in its 75th year of operation when the doors shut suddenly Friday, July 26. The announcement was a surprise for Oswego County Emergency Management.

“Whenever you lose any kind of agency like that, they are an intricate part of the community,” said Nate Degear, EMS coordinator for Oswego County Emergency Management.
“To lose an agency like that, so suddenly or at all, is a shock and sad to see.”

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Degear and other ambulance agencies scrambled to make a plan so no one would be left without proper emergency services.

“Our mutual aid plan has been enacted, so right now, if you have an emergency and you call 911 in North Shore’s old district, you will get an ambulance,” he said. “It’s going to come automatically through the mutual aid process depending on what the closest agency is to your emergency.”

North Shore Ambulance covered the towns of Constantia, Vienna and the village of Cleveland. Now Menter Ambulance in Central Square, McFee Ambulance in Mexico and Northern Oswego County Ambulance in Pulaski will primarily respond to the area. The nearest ambulance is 38 minutes away.

“Regardless of what color the ambulance is or what agency is on the side of the door, we are going to make sure to do our best so every resident that needs an ambulance is going to get one in an appropriate amount of time.”

Degear says that Oswego County Emergency Management and local ambulance agencies are working on a long-term solution for better coverage in the Cleveland area. He does not know when that plan will be completed.

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