ONONDAGA COUNTY, N.Y. -- Emergency responders around Central New York will soon be able to communicate better with one another.

Senator Charles Schumer announced Monday that he convinced the Department of Homeland Security to allow Onondaga County 9-11 officials to use already-approved federal grant money to upgrade their radios and make them compatible with Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, and Oswego Counties.

Homeland Security had previously claimed the money could not go to radio upgrades because the radios themselves were not originally bought with DHS funds.

Senator Schumer said inter-operability among the five counties will promote safety and save lives.