Community Emergency Planning in NYC - A Toolkit for Community Leaders

RESPONSE AND RECOVERY OPERATIONS

The City plans for a variety of threats and hazards. When large-scale emergencies require various agencies to respond, NYC Emergency Management opens the City’s Emergency Operations Center where agencies can communicate and coordinate tasks. During federally-declared disasters, local, State, and Federal agencies coordinate efforts through the Emergency Operations Center as well.

Use the next several pages to learn more about specific operations the government coordinates in response to emergencies.

Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) is a nonprofit membership-based organization that builds resiliency in communities nationwide. It serves as the forum where organizations share knowledge and resources throughout the disaster cycle - preparation, response, recovery and mitigation - to help disaster survivors and their communities.

New York City Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NYCVOAD) is the local affiliate of NVOAD and is represented in the City’s Emergency Operations Center.

If you represent an organization that is interested in learning more  about NYCVOAD, email newyorkcityvoad@gmail.com.

EXAMPLE: HURRICANE SANDY RECOVERY

OCTOBER TO DECEMBER:

• City, State, and Federal resources are activated for assistance.

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and grassroots networks mobilize to assist residents.

• Governor makes a formal request for Federal aid.

• FEMA initiates Individual Assistance program.

JANUARY TO MARCH:

• Congress passes a disaster relief act, which includes money for NYC resiliency initiatives and a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for housing assistance.

• Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) opens.

• Long Term Recovery Groups are created throughout NYC to bring together grassroots and voluntary rebuild organizations and to address needs.

APRIL TO JUNE:

• New York Disaster Interfaith Services convenes the Sandy Unmet Needs Roundtable.

• NYC Build It Back begins rebuild program in June 2013, NGOs continue to assist homeowners with rebuilding.

EVACUATION + TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

TRIGGER:

• Severe impacts expected from approaching weather.

WHAT DOES THE CITY DO?

• When an evacuation order is issued, various agencies work together to coordinate public information, roadway management, and the use of public transportation to support individuals evacuating.

• The City coordinates transportation to evacuation centers for individuals with disabilities or access/functional needs who need assistance evacuating. (Individuals in need should call 311 to request assistance.)

• The State may decide to shut down public transportation 6-8 hours ahead of when sustained winds reach 39 mph or higher and transportation becomes unsafe. The City will will support the shut down through messaging and coordinating the flow of traffic.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Know Your Zone: Know whether your community is located in a hurricane evacuation zone and take steps to prepare.

• If the Mayor issues an evacuation order for your zone, help spread the word to your community, and evacuate! People who cannot stay with friends or family can seek shelter at one of the City’s evacuation centers.

• Check on your neighbors - people with disabilities or access/functional needs who need assistance evacuating should call 311 as soon as possible or 911 if it is an emergency.

 COASTAL STORM EVACUATION TIMELINE

SHELTERS + SERVICE CENTERS

TRIGGERS:

• If a coastal storm evacuation order is issued, the City will open up evacuation centers and shelters.

• The City opens service centers following an emergency where impacted residents need multiple services.

WHAT DOES THE CITY DO?

• At evacuation centers, evacuees can access medical screening, animal assistance, and family reunification before being transported to a shelter:

  • Emergency shelters provide basic provisions such as food, water, baby formula, blankets, medical goods, and supplies for people with disabilities or access/functional needs.

  • Special medical needs (SMN) shelters are established for evacuees who do not require hospital or nursing home care, but need specialized assistance.

• Shelters and service centers provide basic accommodations, such as language interpretation, to make services accessible to all.

• Depending on the emergency, service centers may provide any of the following:

  • Housing assistance

  • Identification replacement

  • Assistance with personal property replacement

  • Immigration assistance

  • Insurance information

  • Legal services and small business assistance

  • Assistance for pets and pet owners

  • Mental health and/or spiritual care

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Spread the word: make residents aware of any resources that become available.

• Help officials identify gaps in services.

• Remind people that monetary donations (instead of goods) are more immediately useful in the aftermath of disasters.

• Join your local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and get trained to help support shelter and service center operations.

POWER DISRUPTION

TRIGGER:

• Power outages that impact thousands of customers for several hours or more.

WHAT DOES THE CITY DO?

• The City monitors the status of its electrical system to assess the risks and extent of widespread disruption and notifies relevant agencies and stakeholders.

• Various agencies and utility companies coordinate efforts to reduce load levels and identify and help affected populations.

• During disruptions impacting more than 5,000 households for over 48 hours, the City may activate the Post Emergency Canvassing Operation (PECO) to survey affected areas.

DID YOU KNOW?

New York State law requires that all utility companies maintain lists of customers with a serious medical hardship and establish procedures for notifying them within 24 hours of an outage.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Check the NYC Emergency Management website and social media to find resources or call 311.

• Check in on your neighbors- If power will be out for an extended amount of time, offer to help individuals relocate to a shelter, hotel or friend or relative’s home that has power. Offer to help pick up groceries or deliver supplies. Only do so when authorities say it is safe to travel.

• Encourage individuals who use life-sustaining equipment to register with their utility provider.

FEEDING + COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION

TRIGGERS:

• Access to usual supply chains for food, water, and medical services and equipment is disrupted.

• Disruption of utilities, such as electricity, cooking gas or water thatprevents the public from safely storing and preparing food.

WHAT DOES THE CITY DO?

• Maintains an emergency stockpile designed to support life, safety, and hygiene for 70,000 people for seven days. Examples of standard items include: food, water, cots, blankets, clothing, Diabetes testing strips, mobility aids, and over-the-counter medicine.

• The Food Access Lead Team, made up of non-profit, public and private organizations, implements the Emergency Feeding Strategy to provide residents with food and water through shelters, fixed meal distribution sites or mobile feeding units.

• The Emergency Feeding Strategy may also include commodity distribution points (CDPs), which are temporary sites set up in affected communities to provide life-sustaining commodities like food, water, ice, and baby formula.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Check Emergency Management’s website or social media or 311 to find out what operations are activated.

• Organize your community to check in on your neighbors and work with your elected officials to share information and communicate unmet needs.

• Join your local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to be trained on how to support emergency operations like CDPs.

EXTREME WEATHER

TRIGGERS:

• A heat index above 100ºF for 1+ day, or above 95ºF for 2+ days.

• Snow accumulation greater than six inches, high temperatures below 15ºF for a 48-hour period or a wind chill below 0º F.

• Nor’easters: coastal storms that combine typical winter storm hazards with high winds and coastal flooding.

• Tornadoes: funnel shaped clouds that form after large thunderstorms.

WHAT DOES THE CITY DO?

• Alerts the public of risks and available resources.

• Monitors and assists homeless individuals.

• Monitors vulnerable infrastructure such as power and water systems.

Extreme Heat:

• Opens cooling centers to help prevent heat-related illness or death. Cooling centers are air conditioned spaces such as senior centers, community centers, public libraries, and other public facilities that typically operate during daytime hours and are free and open to the public.

• Conveys information to service providers through the Advance Warning System (https://advancewarningsystemnyc.org).

• Distributes hydrant spray caps to conserve water (opening hydrants without a cap results in a drop in local water pressure and threatens firefighting capabilities).

Winter Weather:

• Deploys plows and salt spreaders to clear 6,300 miles of streets.

• Dispatches tow trucks and closes roadways and airports as needed.

• Responds when landlords do not provide adequate heat to tenants.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Call 311 to report dangerous conditions, electricity or heat loss, or if you see someone in need of assistance.

• Check on your neighbors.

• Members of the community over 18 years of age can request spray caps from FDNY firehouses.

• Clear snow and dangling ice from roofs, curb cuts, and hydrants.