[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Red Hook 7-12-1988 by resolution; amended
in its entirety 12-12-2006 by L.L. No. 7-2006. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Disaster Preparedness Committee — See Ch. 8.
The purpose of this chapter is to minimize disasters
or potential disasters and their effects, provide for effective local
responses when disasters occur and facilitate local recovery.
A.
Under New York State Executive Law, Article 2-B, the
Town of Red Hook 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 in or affecting
the Town of Red Hook. 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 arrival constitutes an unacceptable delay. Said designee may,
under those conditions where the Town Supervisor is unavailable or
his/her arrival constitutes an unacceptable delay, issue a declaration
of emergency which shall be followed by these steps required by Article
2-B.
The Disaster Preparedness Committee shall, in
consultation with others which it deems appropriate, make such plans
as it deems necessary to prevent and minimize the effects of disaster.
Such plan shall be approved by the Town Board and shall be on file
in the office of the Town Clerk. These steps shall include but need
not be limited to:
A.
Identification of potential disasters and disaster
sites.
B.
Recommendation of disaster prevention projects.
C.
Suggestion of revisions and additions to building
and safety codes and zoning and other land use programs.
D.
Taking such other measures as reasonably can be taken
to prevent disasters or mitigate their impact.
A.
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will temporarily
be the Town Hall, located at 109 South Broadway, Red Hook.
B.
The Town Supervisor or other individuals designated
by the Town Board to the Dutchess County Disaster Preparedness Committee
shall assess all information received from local volunteer fire companies,
Town departments (Highway Department, Fire Department), the Dutchess
County Sheriff's Office, New York State Police, Town and Village Water
Department, Town Board members, Red Hook Central School, area churches,
Dutchess County Community Action Agency and the County Disaster Preparedness/Civil
Defense Coordinator.
C.
The Town Supervisor or other individuals designated
by the Town Board shall declare an emergency (disaster) after all
information is assessed.
A.
The Town Supervisor, Town Board members, Disaster
Preparedness Committee members, Highway Superintendent, Town Clerk
and other Town personnel as designated will assemble at the EOC (Town
Hall) upon notification of an emergency. The emergency notification
list is kept on file with the Town Clerk.
B.
The Town Supervisor or designee is responsible for
making the formal declaration and proper notification of a disaster.
This includes:
C.
The Town of Red Hook will contact the Dutchess County
Office of Disaster Preparedness and Civil Defense 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.
D.
When there is a need for mass care of persons, the
American Red Cross is the recognized agency responsible. The Dutchess
County Office of Disaster Preparedness and Civil Defense will automatically
notify the Red Cross to open a shelter when notified.
E.
The Public Information Officer, appointed by the Town
Supervisor and under the direction of the Town Supervisor, shall direct
the local dissemination of emergency information and the issuance
of news reports to the public and notify the County Emergency Services
on the status and development of emergency measures, using all media
or public communications.
A.
The Red Hook Town Supervisor shall be responsible
for the conduct of disaster operations, shall use any and all facilities,
equipment, supplies, personnel and other resources of the Town appropriate
to cope with the disaster, including the services of the EOC and its
staff for implementation of necessary measures to achieve successful
emergency operations. The Supervisor may appoint an Emergency Coordinator
to coordinate the operation of the EOC and to coordinate emergency
response.
B.
Red Hook Town Board. The Red Hook Town Board shall
take all appropriate steps to prepare for any disaster or emergency
and shall generally be responsible for the implementation of the Town's
emergency preparedness plans.
C.
Red Hook Town Clerk. The Red Hook Town Clerk is responsible
for the maintenance and availability of essential records, documents
and other materials required during an emergency.
D.
Under the direction of the Supervisor, the person
appointed as the Emergency Coordinator will coordinate all emergency
operations, including the implementation of the disaster plan, will
advise the Supervisor of the operational priorities and will recommend
requests for assistance from the County Emergency Services Fire Departments.
E.
The County Sheriff's Office, State Police and local
police will disperse their personnel, together with Civil Defense
Auxiliary Police, to maintain order, prevent looting, direct traffic
and also to direct other injured to medical installations. Any such
law enforcement departments may designate a representative to be part
of the local EOC.
[Amended 3-11-2008 by L.L. No. 4-2008]
F.
The Fire Chief and 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, disaster sites and flooded areas. The local Fire
Chief may call upon the County Fire Coordinator for advice and/or
assistance concerning fire-related emergencies and relief operations.
The Rescue Squad Captain of the Fire Department will direct all health
and medical services, including alerting hospitals and ambulances
regarding anticipated medical needs. The Fire Department also adopts,
incorporates and shall participate in any Fire Mutual Aid Plan and
the Dutchess County All-Hazards Plan, the Dutchess County Hazardous
Materials Response Plan and any other plan deemed to be in the best
interest of the residents of the Town of Red Hook.
G.
Red Hook 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 or she will
cooperate with all other departments of the Town of Red Hook to restore
and maintain all essential services.
H.
Red Hook Code Enforcement Officer and Building Inspector.
The Code Enforcement Officer and Building Inspector will be responsible
for safety inspection of damaged buildings before evacuees are allowed
to reoccupy such buildings.
A.
Names, addresses and telephone numbers of all Town
of Red Hook personnel will be available at the office of the Town
Clerk at the Red Hook Town Hall.
B.
A list of the order of designees for disaster declaration
and emergency management will be on file in the Red Hook Town Hall
and the County Office of Disaster Preparedness and Civil Defense and
will be posted conspicuously.
Designated at the annual reorganization meeting
of the Red Hook Town Board, the emergency interim successors have
the responsibility for supplying the Dutchess County EOC with the
following information when requesting additional aid:
A.
Assessment of damage to the Town of Red Hook.
B.
Information regarding extent of disaster mitigation.
C.
List of food, fuel, medical and building supplies,
etc., on hand.
D.
List of available manpower, machines, equipment and
supplies in both the government and private sector.
E.
Inventory of houses of worship and congregate houses.
A.
The maintaining of logs by EOC staff, Highway Superintendent,
fire companies and other personnel as indicated is required.
B.
Completion of required impact statement and recovery
plan by the Town Supervisor and Town Board shall be in accordance
with New York State Executive Law, Article 2-B.
C.
The final report is to be prepared by the Red Hook
Town Clerk and filed as required.
