[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Verona 12-6-1993 (Ch. 16 of the 1998 Code).
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 Verona 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 the Natural
Disaster of the State of New York, and the National Plan for Natural
Disaster Mobilization.
B.
The Town of Verona recognizes that planning and preparatory actions
are required before an emergency. Emergency preparedness allows the
Town of Verona 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.
The Emergency Operations Center for the Town or village will
be in the Town Office Building, Germany Road. Once the Supervisor,
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 local departments
as appropriate. This will be done through the use of department representatives,
telephones (located in the Emergency Operations Center), radios in
the Police, Fire, Highway and Civil Defense Departments 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.
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.
A.
Members of the Town Board and other designated personnel will assemble
as soon as possible at the Emergency Operations Center upon notification
of the existence of an emergency.
B.
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 Verona according to the guidelines set forth in this
plan.[1]
(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 Verona 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 Verona should 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 Town of Verona should contact the Civil Defense Office regarding
any major emergency or disaster situation. Civil defense assistance
should be requested when local or mutual aid resources are exhausted.
All requests for County Civil Defense assistance of any nature by
any department will be approved by the Supervisor and will be made
to the County Director of Civil Defense by direct phone contact or
by the Civil Defense radio network.
(5)
Military assistance requests will be made by the Supervisor of the
Town to the Oneida County Executive who will forward the request to
the Oneida County Civil Defense Office 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.
(7)
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. American
National Red Cross has been assigned this responsibility by the Congress
of the United States. The Red Cross chapter responsible for Town of
Verona is the Mohawk Valley Chapter, 1415 Genesee Street, Utica, New
York 13501 (telephone number 315-733-4666).[2]
[1]
Editor's Note: The detailed plan guidelines are on file
in the Town offices.
The responsibilities and functions listed below recognize only
basic duties. Each of the position descriptions may be altered or
expanded to suit the needs of the individual Town or village. One
person may fill one or more of the below listed positions.
A.
Town Supervisor.
(1)
The Supervisor of the Town of Verona is responsible for the conduct
of disaster operations within the Town of Verona.
(2)
The Supervisor of the Town of Verona shall use any and all facilities,
equipment, supplies, personnel and other resources of the Town of
Verona in such a manner as may be necessary or appropriate to cope
with the disaster.
(3)
The Supervisor shall direct the activities of all agencies within
the Town of Verona against the effects of emergency in conformance
with the approved plans for the rescue and relief of the people and
the recovery and the rehabilitation of the community of Town of Verona.
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 shall direct
the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for the Emergency Operations
Center, under the direction of the Town Supervisor. Also, under the
direction of the Supervisor, the Emergency Coordinator shall coordinate
the emergency operations of the Emergency Operations Center, prepare
estimates of the situation, advise the Supervisor of operational priorities
and recommend requests for assistance from Oneida County Civil Defense.
E.
The Fire Chief 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 Chief may call upon the County Fire
Coordinator or the County Civil Defense, under mutual aid, for advice
and/or assistance concerning fire related emergencies, relief operations
and coordination of emergency shelter and feeding operations.
[Amended 5-4-1998 by L.L.
No. 1-1998]
F.
The local police may designate a Traffic Control Officer to be part
of the Emergency Operations Center for the purpose of controlling
traffic and population movements. The local police 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 nearest emergency
operating center. The Police Chief my call upon the Oneida County
Sheriff's Department and/or New York State Police for advice
and/or assistance.
G.
The Local Superintendent/Director 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
all Public Works and Engineering Services of Oneida County for such
assistance. The Highway Director will work in conjunction with the
New York State Electric and Gas Corporation, the New York Telephone
Company, the local water and sewer board and any other local utility
in the restoration of the various essential services.
H.
The Code Enforcement Officer of the Town 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 direction of the Supervisor
of the Town of Verona, shall direct the local dissemination of emergency
information, the issuance of news reports to the public and shall
notify the County Civil Defense office on the status and development
of emergency measures, using all media of public communication.
J.
The Communications Officer or staff shall supervise, direct, arrange
and restore communications for all emergency purposes using available
communication means and methods. Maximum use of all available forms
of communications will be planned by all departments to aid the communications
staff in carrying out their duties.
K.
The Medical Officer or staff shall direct 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 (Resources and Production) shall carry out measures
necessary to the emergency handling of all local resources.
M.
The Manpower Officer shall direct the assignment of personnel to
the various emergency services as requested.
N.
The Transportation Officer shall carry out measures necessary to
the utilization of all transportation modes for support and rescue
operations.
O.
The school representatives shall direct the action related to care
for school students in school during an emergency situation.
P.
Additional responsibilities and functions. All department heads and/or
those responsible for carrying out parts of the emergency operations
for the Town of Verona shall have their responsibilities and functions
listed within this plan.
Once an emergency has been proclaimed, local emergency orders
can be issued. A local emergency order shall be effective from the
time and in the manner prescribed in the order and shall be published
as soon as practicable in the news of general circulation in the area
affected by such order. Such orders shall cease to be in effect five
days after promulgation or upon declaration by the Chief Executive
that the state of emergency no longer exists, whichever occurs sooner.
The Chief Executive may extend such orders for additional periods
not to exceed five days each during the pendency of the local state
of emergency. Local emergency orders shall be executed in triplicate
and shall be filed within 72 hours, or as soon thereafter as practicable,
in the office of the Clerk of the governing board of the county, the
office of County Clerk and the office of the Secretary of State.
