N.Y. Executive Law § 23: Local comprehensive emergency management plans

§ 23. Local comprehensive emergency management plans. 1. Each county,

except those contained within the city of New York, and each city with a

population of one million or more, shall prepare a comprehensive

emergency management plan. Each city with a population of less than one

million, town and village is authorized to prepare a comprehensive

emergency management plan. The disaster preparedness commission shall

provide assistance and advice for the development of such plans. Each

city with a population of less than one million, town and village plan

shall be coordinated with the county plan.

2. The purpose of such plans shall be to minimize the effect of

disasters by (i) identifying appropriate local measures to prevent

disasters, (ii) developing mechanisms to coordinate the use of local

resources and manpower for service during and after disasters and the

delivery of services to aid citizens and reduce human suffering

resulting from a disaster, and (iii) providing for recovery and

redevelopment after disasters.

3. Plans for coordination of resources, manpower and services shall

provide for a centralized coordination and direction of requests for

assistance.

4. Plans for coordination of assistance shall provide for utilization

of existing organizations and lines of authority.

5. In preparing such plans, cooperation, advice and assistance shall

be sought from local government officials, regional and local planning

agencies, police agencies, fire departments and fire companies, local

emergency management agencies, commercial and volunteer ambulance

services, health and social services officials, community action

agencies, the chief administrator of the courts, organizations for the

elderly and the handicapped, agencies and organizations that provide

home health care services, agencies and organizations that provide

hospice services, other interested groups and the general public. Such

advice and assistance may be obtained through public hearings held on

public notice, or through other appropriate and practical methods,

through which such aforementioned groups may offer their input for

consideration on issues that support the effective preparation and

execution of the plan. In addition, in the case of home care and

hospice, such input may address procedures by which such providers may

be granted essential access to care for such patients during an

emergency.

6. All plans for comprehensive emergency management developed by local

governments or any revisions thereto shall be submitted to the

commission by December thirty-first of each year to facilitate state

coordination of disaster operations.

7. Such plans shall include, but not be limited to:

a. Disaster prevention and mitigation. Plans to prevent and minimize

the effects of disasters shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) identification of hazards and assessment of risk;

(2) recommended disaster prevention and mitigation projects, policies,

priorities and programs, with suggested implementation schedules, which

outline federal, state and local roles;

(3) suggested revisions and additions to building and safety codes and

zoning and other land use programs;

(4) such other measures as reasonably can be taken to protect lives,

prevent disasters, and reduce their impact.

b. Disaster response. Plans to coordinate the use of resources and

manpower for service during and after disasters and to deliver services

to aid citizens and reduce human suffering resulting from a disaster

shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) coordination of resources, manpower and services, using recognized

practices in incident management, utilizing existing organizations and

lines of authority and centralized direction of requests for assistance;

(2) the location, procurement, construction, processing,

transportation, storing, maintenance, renovation, distribution, disposal

or use of materials, including those donated, and facilities and

services which may be required in time of disaster;

(3) a system for warning populations who are or may be endangered;

(4) arrangements for activating municipal and volunteer forces,

through normal chains of command so far as possible, and for continued

communication and reporting;

(5) a specific plan for rapid and efficient communication and for the

integration of local communication facilities during a disaster

including the assignment of responsibilities and the establishment of

communication priorities and liaison with municipal, private, state and

federal communication facilities;

(6) a plan for coordination evacuation procedures including the

establishment of temporary housing and other necessary facilities;

(7) criteria for establishing priorities with respect to the

restoration of vital services and debris removal;

(8) plans for the continued effective operation of the civil and

criminal justice systems;

(9) provisions for training local government personnel and volunteers

in disaster response operations;

(10) providing information to the public;

(11) care for the injured and needy and identification and disposition

of the dead;

(12) utilization and coordination of programs to assist victims of

disasters, with particular attention to the needs of the poor, the

elderly, individuals with disabilities and other groups which may be

especially affected;

(13) control of ingress and egress to and from a disaster area,

including but not limited to, exempting from travel bans those essential

private and public personnel, as determined by the commission, who are

summoned by their employers to assist in emergency services, such as

utility and other workers who need to reach declared emergency areas in

order to perform tasks related to the restoration and/or maintenance of

energy and communications infrastructure;

(14) arrangements to administer state and federal disaster assistance;

(15) procedures under which the county, city, town, village or other

political subdivision and emergency organization personnel and resources

will be used in the event of a disaster;

(16) a system for obtaining and coordinating disaster information

including the centralized assessment of local disaster effects and

resultant needs;

(17) continued operation of governments of political subdivisions; and

(18) utilization and coordination of programs to assist individuals

with household pets and service animals following a disaster, with

particular attention to means of evacuation, shelter and transportation

options.

c. Recovery. Local plans to provide for recovery and redevelopment

after disasters shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) recommendations for replacement, reconstruction, removal or

relocation of damaged or destroyed public or private facilities,

proposed new or amendments to zoning, subdivision, building, sanitary or

fire prevention regulations and recommendations for economic development

and community development in order to minimize the impact of any

potential future disasters on the community.

(2) provision for cooperation with state and federal agencies in

recovery efforts.

(3) provisions for training and educating local disaster officials or

organizations in the preparation of applications for federal and state

disaster recovery assistance.