[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Dover 12-29-1993; amended in its entirety 6-27-2018 by L.L. No. 3-2018.[1] Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
Attachment 1 - State of Emergency Declaration/Proclamation
Attachment 2 - Emergency Action Plan Organizational Chart
Attachment 2 - Emergency Action Plan Organizational Chart[1]
Editor’s Note: This local law also amended the title
of this chapter, which was previously Emergency Preparedness.
The purpose of this plan is to minimize disasters or potential
disasters and their effects, provide for effective local response
when disasters occur and facilitate local recovery.
A.
Under New York State Executive Law, Article 2-B, the Town of Dover
is authorized to prepare a disaster response plan to enable it to
deal effectively with potential disaster situations. Statutory authority
is given to the Town Supervisor to designate and be responsible for
an emergency situation occurring or affecting the Town of Dover. The
Town Supervisor, or his/her designee, is the only person who may request
assistance from the next higher level of government, which is the
County of Dutchess.
B.
The Town Supervisor shall, as soon as practicable, appoint an individual
who shall be designated as the "designee" to act as the agent for
the Town Supervisor when he/she is unavailable or his/her arrival
constitutes an unacceptable delay. Said designee may, under those
conditions where the Town Supervisor is unavailable or his/her arrival
constitutes an unaccepted delay, issue a declaration of emergency
which shall be followed by these steps required by Article 2-B.
C.
The Town shall follow the best practices related to command staff
and incident response organizational structure outlined in FEMA's
Incident Command System Independent Study Course, IS-100 B "Introduction
to Incident Command System."
The Supervisor shall, in consultation with others he/she deems
appropriate, make such plans as he/she deems necessary to prevent
and minimize the effects of disaster. These steps shall include, but
need not be limited to:
A.
Identification of potential disasters and disaster sites.
B.
Recommend disaster prevention projects.
C.
Suggest revisions and additions to building and safety codes and
zoning and other land use programs.
D.
Take such other measures as reasonably can be taken to prevent disasters
or mitigate their impact.
A.
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be Dover Town Hall located
at 126 East Duncan Hill Road, Dover Plains, New York. The Alternate
Emergency Operations Center (AEOC) will be the JH Ketcham Hose Company
Station 1 at 3133 Route 22, Dover Plains.
B.
The EOC to be used will be determined by the Supervisor or his/her
designee at the time of the emergency.
C.
The Town Supervisor shall assess all information received from Town
of Dover departments, the Town Board, the New York State Police and
Dutchess County Sheriff's Office and the Dutchess County Office
of Emergency Management.
D.
The Town Supervisor may declare a state of emergency (disaster) after
all information is assessed.
A.
The Dover Town Supervisor:
(1)
Shall be responsible for the conduct of disaster operations within
his/her political supervision and participate in county, state and
federal agency conference calls, as required and requested, to provide
local information on disaster/emergency response and to receive information
and updates on resources available through other political subdivisions
to cope with the disaster. The Town Supervisor, at his/her discretion,
may request other town officials and fire company officers to participate
in conference calls and meetings with county, state and federal agencies
as needed.
(2)
Shall use any and all facilities, equipment, supplies, personnel
and other resources of the political subdivisions in such a manner
as may be necessary or appropriate to cope with the disaster.
(3)
Shall direct the activities of all agencies within the political
subdivision against the effects of the emergency. The supervisor will
utilize services of the Emergency Operations Center and its staff
for implementation of necessary measures to achieve emergency operations.
(4)
May appoint an Incident Commander, to coordinate the operation of
the EOC and to coordinate emergency response and a Public Information
Officer and (Incident) Safety Officer as warranted for incident-related
duties.
(5)
Dover Town Board. The Dover Town Board 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. The EOC staff is not limited to those listed below
nor are all those listed required in all situations:
(a)
Dover Town Supervisor.
(b)
Deputy Supervisor.
(c)
Town Board members.
(d)
Incident Commander.
(e)
Public Information Officer.
(f)
Safety Officer.
(g)
Highway Superintendent.
(h)
Fire Chief.
(i)
Town Clerk.
(j)
Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer.
(k)
New York State Police and Dutchess County Sheriff and Town of
Dover Constables.
(l)
Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response.
(m)
Utility companies.
(n)
IT/Media Clerk responsible for Town of Dover cable channel and
Town website.
(o)
Other Town of Dover staff as requested by the Town Supervisor.
B.
An organizational chart of the Town's authorized elected officials,
fire department officers and town employees with emergency-action-plan-related
responsibilities is included at the end of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said organizational chart is included
as an attachment to this chapter.
A.
The Town Supervisor, Town Board members, Highway Superintendent,
Town Clerk and other town personnel as designated will assemble at
the EOC upon notification of an emergency. The emergency notification
list will be kept on file in the Town Clerk and Supervisor's
office.
B.
The Town Supervisor or designee is responsible for making the formal
declaration and proper notification of a disaster. This includes:
(1)
A letter or e-mail to the Town Clerk, the Dutchess County Clerk,
and the Secretary of State (New York) within 72 hours. A sample proclamation/declaration
of a Town state of emergency is included at the end of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said sample proclamation/declaration of
state of emergency is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(2)
A copy of this letter will be faxed or e-mailed to the Dutchess County
Emergency Management Office.
(3)
A telephone call, e-mail or faxed letter to the Town's official
newspaper.
(4)
Inform the public about the state of emergency and provide information
on available community resources on the Town's website or other
social media.
(5)
Utilize the NY-Alert mass communication system (www.nyalert.gov)
to broadcast a voice mail or text message alert to Town residents
(who have enrolled in the service) about the state of emergency.
(6)
Request assistance from the Dutchess County Executive to notify residents
about the state of emergency through the County's online DutchessDelivery
public outreach service.
(7)
The Town will contact the Dutchess County Emergency Management Office
for assistance only after all local or mutual aid resources are exhausted.
Requests for outside aid must first be approved by the Town Supervisor
or designee.
(8)
When there is need for mass care of persons, the American Red Cross
is the recognized agency responsible. The Dutchess County Emergency
Management Office will automatically notify the Red Cross to open
a shelter when notified. If this mechanism is not used, then the burden
of expense of sheltering and feeding may be assumed by the community
(Town of Dover).
C.
Dover Town Clerk. The Dover Town Clerk is responsible for the maintenance
and availability of essential records, documents and other materials
required during an emergency.
D.
J. H. Ketcham Hose Company (Dover Fire Department).
(1)
In a firematic-related disaster or emergency, the J. H. Ketcham Hose
Company Fire Chief and officers will be responsible for the direction
of all actions to contain and extinguish fire resulting from emergencies
and the removal of trapped and injured persons from damaged buildings,
disaster sites, and flooded areas. The local fire chiefs may call
upon the Dutchess County Fire Coordinator for advice and/or assistance
concerning fire-related emergencies and relief operations.
(2)
The fire department shall also adopt, incorporate, and participate
in any fire mutual aid plan, the Dutchess County Hazardous Materials
Response Plan and any other plan deemed in the best interest of the
residents of the Town of Dover.
E.
Public Information Officer. The Public Information Officer shall
be appointed by the Town Supervisor and work under the direction of
the Incident Commander. Only the Public Information Officer shall
direct local dissemination of emergency information, the issuance
of news reports to the public and notify the county emergency services
on the status and development of emergency measures using all available
media sources of public communications.
F.
Law Enforcement Officers. The Town Supervisor shall request that
the Dutchess County Sheriff's Department and the New York State
Police assign personnel to maintain order, prevent looting, direct
traffic and also to direct the injured to medical installations.
G.
Dover Highway Superintendent. The Highway Superintendent will be
responsible for maintaining essential public facilities and services,
including the maintenance of streets, highways, bridges, public buildings
and other vital community services. He/she will cooperate with all
other departments of the Town to restore and maintain essential services.
H.
Dover Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer. The Building
Inspector of the Town of Dover will be responsible for safety inspection
of damaged buildings before evacuees are allowed to reoccupy such
buildings.
I.
Safety Officer. The Safety Officer may be appointed by the Town Supervisor
to work under the direction of the Incident Commander. The duty of
the Safety Officer will be to monitor safety conditions and develop
measures for ensuring the safety of all incident personnel.
Town of Dover Town Board interim successors are designated at
the annual reorganization meeting and those elected listed in order
of succession, in the absence or unavailability of the Town Supervisor,
will have the responsibility for supplying other elected officials,
first responders, county, state and federal agencies, the Incident
Commander and the Public Information and Safety Officers, with the
following information:
A.
Assessment of damage to the Town of Dover.
B.
Information regarding the extent of disaster mitigation.
C.
List of food, field, medical and building supplies on hand.
D.
List of available manpower, machines, equipment and supplies in both
the government and private sector.
E.
Inventory of houses of workshop and congregate houses.
F.
Contact information for personnel identified as EOC staff (previously listed in § 15-5A(5) of this chapter) for disaster declaration and emergency management will be kept on file in Town Hall, forwarded annually to the J.H. Ketcham Hose Company Fire Chief and filed with the Dutchess County Emergency Management Office.
