A ribbon cutting was held Thursday for the temporary Schoharie Fire Station. The facility will be used while a permanent fire station is built after the original one was destroyed by Tropical Storm Irene. Maria Valvanis has more.

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SCHOHARIE, N.Y. -- A ribbon cutting was held for the new temporary Schoharie Fire Station. The original fire station was destroyed by Tropical Storm Irene and a temporary one will be used until a new one is built.

For the first time since the flood, all of the department's trucks will be able to be stored in the same location. Officials say this will save time during emergencies and help them be better prepared.

The building cost $173,000 and was funded through FEMA.

"Our members, our volunteers here have done countless hours of paperwork, submitting grants for FEMA, just countless, hundreds and hundreds of hours have gone into this," said Schoharie Fire Department Chief Marty Pierce.

"It's really gratifying, very gratifying to be where we’re at now. I mean, it's been a long road, but we're sitting back and relaxing a little bit, because the next road is going to be just as long or longer, to get the new facility," said building planner John Wolfe.

A new station is expected to be finished within the next two years and will be built right behind the temporary station. Officials say that location will mean it's no longer in a flood zone.