[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of
the Village of Liberty 5-14-2008 by L.L. No. 2-2008.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also repealed
former Ch. 28, Emergency Preparedness, adopted 12-16-1993 by L.L.
No. 6-1993.
The purpose of this plan is to cite the authority,
formulate procedures and provide for coordinated action in rendering
assistance to the citizens within the Village of Liberty in the event
of a disaster.
A.
Disaster planning is based on the New York State Defense
Emergency Act; the State of New York Executive Law, Article 2-B; and
the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
B.
The Village of Liberty recognizes that planning and
preparatory actions are required before an emergency. Emergency preparedness
allows the Village of Liberty to prepare and react to emergency situations
to save life and property if the Village is threatened or hit by a
disaster or major emergency. The Village commits to prepare and respond
pursuant to NIMS protocol. The Village of Liberty recognizes that
NIMS is a management tool for the command, control and coordination
of resources and personnel in the event of a disaster or major emergency
and will remain compliant with NIMS guidelines.
C.
The Village 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 the security of the community during
a disaster.
A.
Designate Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The Emergency
Operations Center for the Village will be in the Municipal Building,
167 North Main Street, Liberty. Once the Mayor or next in line has
declared 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 departments as appropriate.
This will be done through department representatives, telephones (located
in the Emergency Operations Center), radios in the Police, Fire, Highway
and in the offices and vehicles 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 Mayor
and the Village 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 Village of Liberty
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 Village of Liberty according to the guidelines set
forth in this plan.
(1)
The Mayor or the designated emergency coordinator
is responsible for notification and declaration of an emergency or
disaster.
(2)
Each department head in the Village of Liberty is
responsible for assuring maximum effectiveness and utilization of
all personnel and equipment of the department to accomplish the Village's
responsibilities. Each department head will retain control of the
assigned department and implement orders received from the Emergency
Operations Center.
(3)
The Village of Liberty may seek the cooperation and
aid of any or all surrounding communities in the event of an emergency
or disaster. Arrangements for mutual aid should be made prior to any
emergency or disaster.
(4)
The Village of Liberty should contact the Sullivan
County Office of Emergency management regarding any major emergency
or disaster situation. Emergency Management assistance should be requested
when local or mutual aid resources are exhausted. All requests for
county assistance of any nature by any department will be approved
by the Mayor and will be made to the Sullivan County Office of Emergency
Management by direct phone contact or by the radio network.
(5)
Military assistance requests will be made by the Mayor
of the Village of Liberty to the Sullivan County Office of Emergency
Management/Office of Homeland Security, which will forward the request
to the New York State Emergency Management Office or other appropriate
agency as directed.
(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.
A.
The Mayor of the Village of Liberty is responsible
for the conduct of disaster operations within the Village of Liberty.
The Mayor of the Village of Liberty shall use any and all facilities,
equipment, supplies, personnel and other resources of the Village
of Liberty in such a manner as may be necessary or appropriate to
cope with the disaster. The Mayor shall direct the activities of all
agencies within the Village of Liberty against the effects of the
emergency in conformance with the approved plans for the rescue and
relief of the people and the recovery and rehabilitation of the community
of Liberty. The Mayor will utilize services of the Emergency Operations
Center and its staff for implementation of necessary measures to achieve
emergency operations.
B.
The Village 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 Village 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 Mayor directs
the implementation of the comprehensive plan for the Emergency Operations
Center, under the direction of the Mayor. Also, under the direction
of the Mayor, the Emergency Coordinator coordinates the emergency
operations of the Emergency Operations Center, prepares estimates
of the situation, advises the Mayor of operational priorities and
recommends requests for assistance from the Sullivan County Office
of Emergency Management.
E.
The Fire Chief and fire officers will be responsible
for the direction of all action to contain and extinguish fire resulting
from emergencies and the removal of trapped and injured persons from
damaged buildings and flooded areas. The Fire Chief will call upon
the Sullivan County Fire Coordinator or the County Office of Emergency
Management, under mutual aid, for advice and/or assistance concerning
fire-related emergencies, rescue and relief operations and coordination
of emergency shelter and feeding operations.
F.
The Liberty Police will designate a traffic control
officer to be part of the EOC for the purpose of controlling traffic
and population movements. The Police Department will direct all action
to maintain order, prevent looting and help alleviate panic; direct
injured to medical installations; and assist handicapped persons by
obtaining transportation and directing them to the EOC or evacuation
site. The Police Chief or his designee may call upon the Sullivan
County Sheriff's Office, the New York State Police or any other law
enforcement agency for assistance.
G.
The Superintendent of the Department of Public Works
(DPW) or his designee is responsible for the maintenance of streets
and bridges and all official trucks, vehicles 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 Sullivan County for such assistance. The
DPW will work in conjunction with the local electric and telephone
companies, propane and fuel companies, and water and sewage treatment
departments and with any other local utility in the restoration of
the various essential services.
H.
The Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer of
the Village will be responsible for safety inspection of damaged homes
and businesses before evacuees are allowed to reoccupy such buildings.
I.
The Public Information Officer under the supervision
of the Mayor of the Village of Liberty directs the local dissemination
of emergency information and the issuance of news reports to the public
and notifies the Sullivan County Office of Emergency Management on
the status and development of emergency measures; using all media
of public communication.
J.
The Communications Officer supervises, directs, arranges
and restores communications for all emergency purposes using available
communications means and methods. Maximum use of all available forms
of communication will be planned by all departments to aid the communications
staff in carrying out their duties.
K.
The Medical Officer or staff directs all action to
render health and medical services to the community. The officer or
staff should alert hospitals and ambulances in the area regarding
anticipated medical needs.
L.
The Supply Officer carries out measures necessary
to the emergency handling of all local resources.
M.
The Manpower Officer directs the assignment of personnel
to the various emergency services as requested.
N.
The Transportation Officer carries out measures necessary
to the utilization of all transportation modes for support and rescue
operations.
O.
Additional responsibilities and functions. All department
heads and/or those responsible for carrying out parts of the emergency
operations for the Village of Liberty shall have their responsibilities
and functions listed within this plan.
