Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪
Town of Chatham, NY
Columbia County
By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (5) Index
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Chatham 3-3-1994 by Res. No. 54-94. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this plan is to cite the authority, formulate procedures and provide guidance for coordinated action in rendering assistance to the citizens within the Town of Chatham in the event of a disaster.
A. 
Disaster planning is based on the New York State Defense Emergency Act, the regulations and orders of the State Defense Council and the State Civil Defense Commission; the Emergency Plan for Natural Disaster of the State of New York; Article 2-B of the New York State Executive Law; and the National Plan for Natural Disaster Mobilization.
B. 
The Town of Chatham recognizes that planning and preparatory actions are required before an emergency. Emergency preparedness allows the Town of Chatham to prepare and react to emergency situations to save life and property if the town is threatened or hit by a disaster and major emergency.
C. 
The Town Board shall have the primary responsibility to see that everything possible is done to prepare for any disaster and to provide for the safety and security of the community during a disaster.
A. 
Designation of Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The Emergency Operations Center for the town will be in the Town Hall, Chatham Center, NY. Once the Supervisor or next in line has declared that an emergency exists, the Emergency Operations Center will be staffed on a twenty-four-hour basis until the declared emergency subsides. The Emergency Operations Center will forward all warnings, directives, information, etc., to various local departments as appropriate. This will be done through the use of department representatives, telephones (located in the Emergency Operations Center), radios in the Highway Department, Columbia County Sheriff's Department, Columbia County Office of Emergency Management and in the offices of cooperating agencies. Each member assigned to the Emergency Operations Center will be familiar with this plan, particularly with the section pertaining to each responsible person's service duties.
B. 
Essential emergency operations records. The Town Supervisor and Town Clerk, functioning at the Emergency Operations Center, are responsible for the maintenance and availability of records, documents, plans and other materials required to discharge their and others' functions during an emergency.
C. 
Sequence of action. Members of the Town of Chatham Board and other designated personnel will assemble as soon as possible at the Emergency Operations Center upon notification of the existence of an emergency. To cope with the effects of an emergency, appropriate steps will be taken at the Emergency Operations Center to mobilize fully the available personnel, resources, facilities, supplies and materials in the Town of Chatham according to the guidelines set forth in this plan.
(1) 
The Town Supervisor or the designated emergency coordinator is responsible for the notification and declaration of an emergency or disaster.
(2) 
Each department head in the Town of Chatham is responsible for assuring maximum effectiveness and utilization of all personnel and equipment of the department to accomplish the town's responsibilities. Each department head will retain control of the assigned department and implement orders received from the Emergency Operations Center.
(3) 
The Town of Chatham will seek the cooperation and aid of any or all surrounding communities in the event of an emergency or disaster.
(4) 
The Town of Chatham should contact the County Emergency Management Office regarding any major emergency or disaster situation. Emergency Management Office assistance should be requested when local or mutual aid resources are exhausted. All requests for County Emergency Management assistance of any nature by any department will be approved by the Supervisor or other designated person and will be made to the County Director of Emergency Management by direct phone contact or by the emergency management radio network.
(5) 
Military assistance requests will be made by the Supervisor of the Town to the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors who will forward the request to the State Natural Disaster Commission.
(6) 
The American Red Cross is recognized as the agency responsible for mass care to persons immediately following a disaster. Local Red Cross chapters can extend natural disaster relief assistance to individuals and families, and the Red Cross can assume administrative and financial responsibility in providing such assistance. The American National Red Cross has been assigned this responsibility by the Congress of the United States. The Red Cross chapter responsible for the Town of Chatham is in Hudson.
The responsibilities and functions listed below recognize only basic duties. One person may fill one or more of the below listed positions.
A. 
The Supervisor of the Town of Chatham is responsible for the conduct of disaster operations within the Town of Chatham. The Supervisor of the Town of Chatham shall use all facilities, equipment, supplies, personnel and other resources of the Town of Chatham in such a manner as may be necessary or appropriate to cope with the disaster. The Supervisor shall direct the activities of all agencies within the Town of Chatham against the effects of emergency in conformance with the approved plans for the rescue and relief of the people, the recovery and the rehabilitation of the community of the Town of Chatham. The Supervisor will utilize services of the Emergency Operations Center and its staff for implementation of necessary measures to achieve emergency operations.
B. 
The Town Board as the elected body of the people, shall take all appropriate steps to prepare for any disaster or emergency and shall generally be responsible for the implementation of this and other emergency preparedness plans.
C. 
The Town Clerk is responsible for the maintenance and availability of essential records, documents and other materials required during the emergency.
D. 
The Emergency Coordinator appointed by the Supervisor directs the implementation of the comprehensive plan for the Emergency Operations Center under the direction of the Town Supervisor. Also, under the direction of the Town Supervisor, the Emergency Coordinator coordinates the emergency operations of the Emergency Operations Center, prepares estimates of the situation, advises the Town Supervisor of operational priorities and recommends requests for assistance from the Columbia County Office of Emergency Management.
E. 
The Fire Chiefs and fire officers will be responsible for the direction of all action to contain and extinguish fires resulting from emergencies and the removal of trapped and injured persons from damaged buildings and flooded areas. The local Fire Chiefs may call upon the Columbia County Fire Coordinator, or the County Office of Emergency Management, under mutual aid, for advice and/or assistance concerning fire-related emergencies, relief operations and the coordination of emergency shelter and feeding operations.
F. 
The Columbia County Sheriff may designate a Traffic Control Officer to be part of the Emergency Operations Center for the purpose of controlling traffic and population movements. The Sheriff will direct all action to maintain order, prevent looting and help alleviate panic, direct the injured to medical installations and assist handicapped persons by obtaining transportation and directing them to the nearest Emergency Operations Center. The Sheriff may call upon the New York State Police for advice and/or assistance.
G. 
The Superintendent of Highways is responsible for the maintenance of streets and bridges and all official trucks, cars and equipment. The Superintendent will direct action to check, restore and maintain essential public facilities and services, such as streets, bridges, public buildings and other vital community services, calling upon all public works and engineering services of Columbia County for such assistance. The Superintendent of Highways will work in conjunction with the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation, Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, Taconic Telephone Company and Berkshire Telephone Company and any other local utility in the restoration of the various essential services.
H. 
The Code Enforcement Officer of the Town of Chatham will be responsible for safety inspection of damaged homes and businesses before evacuees are allowed to reoccupy such buildings. The Code Enforcement Officer will direct all activities relating to safety inspections. The Zoning Enforcement Officer will assist the Code Enforcement Officer.
I. 
The Public Information Officer, under the direction of the Supervisor of the Town of Chatham, directs the local dissemination of emergency information and the issuance of news reports to the public and notifies the Columbia County Office of Emergency Management on the status and development of emergency measures, using all media of public communication.
J. 
The school representative directs the actions related to care for school students in school during an emergency situation.