[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees
of the Village of Akron 12-27-1993. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Hazardous materials response plan See Ch. 21.
This disaster preparedness plan is intended
to set forth all necessary information pertaining to operating procedures,
material and human resource availability and political organization
and responsibility for the Village of Akron for use by the village
officials during a declared emergency.
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.
Section 23 of Article 2B of the State Executive Law
authorizes town and village governments to prepare disaster preparedness
plans. Pursuant to § 23 of Article 2B, the Village Board
has adopted the following disaster preparedness measures, designed
to prevent or mitigate disasters and their effects, to provide for
effective response and to facilitate recovery. The comprehensive emergency
management concept that is adopted in New York State prepares local
governments to effectively utilize all of its resources before, during
and after disasters to minimize their impact.
C.
Minimization of the effects of disaster is the primary
motive of effective disaster planning. The Village Board acknowledges
that planning and preparatory actions are required before a disaster
strikes. Coordinated disaster planning permits town and village citizens
to more adequately respond to emergency situations, saving lives and
minimizing the loss of property. The Village Board shall have the
primary responsibility to see that everything possible is done to
prepare for disasters and to provide for the safety and security of
the community during a disaster.
A.
Upon finding by the Mayor (Disaster Coordinator and/or
Assistant Disaster Coordinator), with the advice and counsel of the
various departments, that the public safety is imperiled, the Mayor
is authorized by Article 2B of the Executive Law to proclaim a state
of emergency within any part or all of the territorial limits of the
Village of Akron.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See the Declaration of State
of Emergency form included at the end of this chapter.
B.
Following the proclamation of an emergency order,
the Mayor may issue any orders or directives, where required, to protect
life and property or to mitigate the destructive impact of the disaster.
Section 24 of Article 2B permits the Mayor to issue orders providing
for the:
(1)
Prohibition and control of pedestrian and vehicular
traffic throughout the territorial limits of the Village of Akron.
(2)
Designation of certain areas of the village as unsafe
for occupancy or passage.
(3)
Imposition of curfews.
(4)
Closing or restricted use of places of amusement and
assembly (barrooms, casinos, recreation facilities, etc.).
(5)
Suspension or limitation of the sale, use or transportation
of alcoholic beverages, firearms, explosives and flammable materials
and liquids.
The emergency operations center for the Village
of Akron will be designated by the Mayor at the time of declaration
of a state of emergency. Once the Mayor declares a state of emergency,
the operations center will be staffed on a twenty-four-hour basis
until the emergency expires. The Mayor, as chief executive, pursuant
to the mandates of Article 2B, shall make all necessary decisions
and shall issue all necessary directives during the course of the
disaster on matters pertaining to the coordination of disaster relief
measures and to the discharge of responsibilities of the department
chiefs. Consequently, all warnings, directives and information, etc.,
shall be forwarded to department chiefs from the emergency operations
center. This information will be circulated through the use of the
services of the Village Board members and other designated village
officials and representatives, the various department radios located
in trucks and other vehicles and the telephone and radios located
in the Village Administration Buildings.
The general duties of staff operating disaster
control center shall be as follows:
A.
Mayor. The Mayor, as chief executive officer of the
village, with counsel from the Board of Trustees and such other advisors
as he shall deem necessary, shall have the authority under existing
statutes to declare a state of emergency in the village and shall
render the final decision on all matters pertaining to the safety
and security of the village and the citizens therein, as well as the
deployment of all persons in the field assisting in the effort to
control the emergency.
B.
Disaster Coordinator. The Disaster Coordinator directs
the implementation of the Village of Akron Comprehensive Emergency
Management Plan for the emergency operations center (EOC), under the
direction of the Mayor. Also, under the direction of the Mayor, the
Disaster Coordinator will coordinate the emergency operations of the
EOC, prepare operational priorities and recommend requests for assistance
from the Erie County Office of Disaster Preparedness.
C.
Appointed Trustee. The Mayor shall appoint one Trustee,
who, in the absence of the Mayor, shall assume all duties and responsibilities
of the Mayor and any other functions and assignments conferred upon
him by the Mayor.
D.
Village Clerk-Treasurer. The Village Clerk-Treasurer
shall inform the Mayor and the Board of Trustees as to necessary expenditures
incurred by the village and shall maintain records of hours worked
by all village employees and any outside contractors hired by the
village to assist in the effort to control the emergency.
E.
Village Board. The Village Board shall be an advisory
board to the coordinator of the operations of their regularly assigned
duties and such other special duties as may be assigned to them by
the Mayor.
F.
Village Attorney. The Village Attorney shall act as
an advisory assistant to the Village Mayor. He shall act in any capacity
that is deemed necessary by the Village Mayor to assure an effective
operation of the EOC.
G.
Police (State, Village of Akron, Erie County Sheriff's
Department). The police shall be responsible for the security of the
homes, schools, mercantile establishments, government installations,
as well as all other private and municipally owned properties within
the village. They, or their delegated liaison, shall be in constant
communication with the control center for the purpose of receiving
calls from persons needing assistance of the department and shall
assign patrol officers in the field to render such assistance. They
shall assign as many men as shall be considered necessary to effect
the duties of the Police Department. They shall assign the officers,
if possible, so that each man shall have four hours rest after each
16 hours in the field. They shall maintain a record of the man-hours
worked by the department and submit a copy to the Village Clerk-Treasurer
for village records.
H.
Department of Highways. Under the direction of the
Superintendent, the Department of Highways shall use such tools and
equipment that may have to be rented or borrowed to keep the village
streets open for the free and unobstructed movement of emergency equipment.
The department shall also, at the scene of the emergency, exert all
necessary actions to relieve the emergency and minimize any danger
to citizens or property. The Superintendent or his delegate shall
be in constant communications with the control center to receive and
dispatch men and material to work areas in the area of emergency.
He shall assign as many men as he shall deem necessary to effect the
safe operation of his workers at the scene of the emergency. The portable
water and wastewater facilities shall be maintained in serviceable
condition as long as it is within the boundaries of human endeavor.
The Superintendent shall maintain a record of man-hours worked by
the men in the department and shall submit a copy to the Village Clerk-Treasurer
for village records.
I.
Fire Department. The Fire Department is charged with
the duty of preventing or extinguishing fires within the village,
as well as rendering emergency treatment and transportation to professional
facilities, if possible, of injured or sick persons in the village.
The Chief, or his delegate, shall be in constant communication with
the control center to assign equipment and personnel to any emergency
as he deems necessary. The Captain of the Fire Police shall deploy
his men at the scene of the emergency in cooperation with orders from
the Fire Department Chief and sheriff's deputies, and those assigned
by the Fire Chief should report to and be under the direction of the
Sheriff's Department. The Fire Chief should submit a copy of all man-hours
worked, along with expenditures, to the Village Clerk-Treasurer for
village records.
J.
Telephone, electric, gas and cable companies. If installations
of any of these public utilities are involved in any emergency within
the village, it would help ensure regulated directions of their operations
if the Mayor would request of the affected or endangered companies
to have a representative in the communication center to establish
necessary priorities so that all departments involved work in coordination
with each other.
K.
American Red Cross and Salvation Army. If the Mayor
should request assistance from the American Red Cross, they should
have a delegate assigned to the disaster control center and direct
operations of their volunteers in whatever duties assigned to them
by the Mayor.
L.
Erie County Sheriff and State Police. The Mayor shall,
in the event that it is impossible to maintain law and order with
the forces within the village government, request assistance from
the Erie County Sheriff or State Police.
M.
Erie County Health Department. In the event of the
danger of an epidemic of any communicable disease, the Mayor shall
request a representative from the Health Department to be in communication
with the control center to assist and advise him in all health matters
affecting the village and its residents.
N.
Erie County Disaster Coordinator. The Erie County
Disaster Coordinator should be contacted and requested to respond
to the communication center when this plan is activated.
O.
Code Enforcement Officer. The Code Enforcement Officer
of the village will be responsible for all safety inspections of damaged
homes and businesses before evacuees are allowed to reoccupy such
buildings and to begin damage assessment and evaluation process with
the assistance of the Village Assessor.
P.
Akron Central School System. The Akron Central School
System will play an important part in the evacuation of the Village
of Akron. If an emergency would happen during school time, all students
will be transported to the Alden Central Schools. The Superintendent
of the Akron Schools shall contact the Alden School and ask that their
students be released at once, so that the Akron students may be housed.
If an emergency occurs after school time, the disaster control center
may request buses to evacuate residents of the village at a greater
rate if necessary.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also the Disaster Preparedness
Plan diagram included at the end of this chapter.
A.
The EOC staff will be contacted by the Disaster Coordinator
or his designated representative after the situation has been evaluated
and a state of emergency has been declared by the Village Mayor. The
EOC will be staffed 24 hours a day while the emergency is in effect,
and it will be staffed by an administrative member from the following
departments:
|
Department
|
Representative
|
Time Contacted
|
|---|---|---|
|
Mayor (CEO)1
|
___________________
| |
|
Disaster Coordinator2
|
___________________
| |
|
Deputy Mayor
|
___________________
| |
|
Trustee
|
___________________
| |
|
Trustee
|
___________________
| |
|
Trustee
|
___________________
| |
|
Fire Chief-Akron
|
___________________
| |
|
Fire Chief-Newstead
|
___________________
| |
|
Village Attorney
|
___________________
| |
|
Village Clerk-Treasurer
|
___________________
| |
|
Police Department
|
___________________
| |
|
Highway Department
|
___________________
| |
|
Building Department
|
___________________
| |
|
Secretary (CEO)
|
___________________
| |
|
NOTES:
1 Director of the
emergency operations center (EOC).
| ||
|
2 Assistant to the
Director of the emergency operations center.
| ||
B.
Other departments may be contacted for additional
assistance, and at that time they will be instructed where to deploy
their resources.
B.
The primary responsibility of the disaster response
team is to evaluate the extent of the emergency and make recommendations
to the Village Mayor as to the need to declare a formal disaster.
C.
This information may be obtained on a firsthand basis
or by having an assigned individual from each department make a recommendation
to the department's supervisor.
D.
After each department has received its information,
the disaster response team will meet at the EOC and be ready to make
a formal recommendation to the Village Mayor.
E.
With the information that will be provided to the
Village Mayor and his advisory council, they will then be able to
make an informed decision as to the need for a formal state of emergency
declaration.
A.
It is imperative that the public be kept informed
of the developments during an emergency or disaster. In the event
of a major disaster incident, the Village of Akron Emergency Disaster
Coordinator shall request the assistance of the Police Department
in the establishment of a command area. He shall also appoint a Media
Supervisor to act as the representative from the Village of Akron
to keep the media appraised of the information regarding the incident.
Factual information (casualties, damages, locations) that shall be
given out shall be cleared through the Chief Executive Officer before
it is given. This will prevent conflicts and inaccuracies.
B.
It shall be the responsibility of the Disaster Coordinator
to assign an Information Clerk in the EOC for the purpose of keeping
records of the following:
(1)
Notification of press personnel as to the location
of the press area. Press agencies to be notified shall include but
not be limited to television stations, radio stations and newspapers.
(2)
Log of events.
(a)
A log of the events, which shall be a chronological
listing of all actions taken by the Media Relations Officer. This
shall include:
[1]
All information received and from whom the information
was received.
[2]
Names of all press agencies and persons contacted.
[3]
Names of all of the press agencies and their
people that are checked into the press area.
[4]
Casualty lists and, if possible, the medical
status of victims, not specific to the types of injuries.
[5]
The locations of persons receiving medical treatment.
(b)
This log shall also contain the times and dates of
all of the occurrences.
C.
If the police do not have anyone available to act
as the Media Relations Officer, the Chief Executive Officer shall
appoint a Media Relations Officer. Below are some guidelines to follow
when speaking with the media:
(1)
The media is going to report some type of a story.
It is better that they report the correct version rather than speculating.
Do not ignore the media. They have a job to do. Utilize them to your
advantage.
(2)
Assign a calm and knowledgeable spokesperson to interact
with the media.
(3)
Gather factual information. The people should receive
factual information, even if it is bad news.
(4)
Do not be afraid to talk to the media. Provide to
them information from a written statement only. This will relax you
so that you will not have to remember everything that you should tell
them.
(5)
Rehearse what you will say to the media.
(6)
Talk in simple terms, not firemanic language.
(7)
Be direct. The media and public are smarter than you
think.
(9)
You do not have to answer all of their questions.
If you are not sure, tell them so. Do not fabricate answers without
the facts to back that answer up.
(10)
Having good news is certainly a plus.
(11)
Consider providing the news media with access to the
site if it can be done safely and without a disturbance.
(12)
Inform the media when a press release will be given,
and make sure you keep that appointment.
A.
The Village of Akron has several different ways to
alert the public, in an emergency, for the purpose of evacuations.
Listed below are the methods that will be followed for notifying the
public of evacuation procedures. All warnings that will be issued
will come from the Media Relations Officer.
(1)
Police and Fire Department vehicles, using their loudspeakers
and public address systems, will patrol, if safe, down the areas that
have been determined to be in need of evacuation and will pass on
the necessary directions and information.
(2)
In addition to patrolling the streets, police and.
fire personnel will conduct a door-to-door notification. This procedure
will only be followed if the area is determined as being safe for
pedestrian travel by the incident commander.
(3)
Announcements that will be released to the media will
be specific as to the routes to take and the areas to evacuate to.
These announcements will be made to the media by the Media Relations
Officer.
A.
It is essential that you plan ahead for the most expeditious
evacuation. Know where you are going, how you will get there and what
you will need. Each family member, as well as your prospective host
family, should be familiar with your plans.
B.
Where to go.
(1)
It you have a vacation cabin, relatives or friends
outside the risk area, go there as soon as possible. Your destination
should be within reasonable distance, as it may be necessary to commute
to work.
(2)
If you do not have a definite location, you should
proceed to the nearest reception area indicated by officials.
(3)
Campers or recreation vehicles could also provide
comfortable shelter. Be sure you park your vehicle outside the designated
risk area.
C.
How to get there.
(1)
If you have your own transportation, drive to your
destination using the route given by your local officials. Use of
personal vehicles or prearranged car pools are preferable, as it may
be necessary to commute to work or shopping areas.
(2)
If you have no private means of transportation, public
transportation will be provided.
(3)
If you are physically unable to get to transportation,
make arrangements to be picked up and transported to your reception
area.
D.
What to take with you.
(1)
Useful clothing and bedding (sleeping bags, blankets,
air mattresses).
(2)
Drinkable water, food, especially food requiring little
preparation, utensils, can opener, matches.
(3)
Safety, sanitation and medical supplies; include a
flashlight and battery-operated radio with extra batteries.
(4)
Baby supplies, if applicable.
(5)
Important papers, including deeds, insurance policies,
credit cards and currency.
A.
Mitigation (long-term).
(1)
Definition. Mitigation includes any activities which
actually eliminate or reduce the probability of occurrence of a disaster.
It also includes long-term activities which reduce the effects of
unavoidable disasters.
(2)
General measures: building codes, vulnerability analysis
updates, tax incentives, zoning and land use management, building
use regulations/safety codes, compliance and enforcement, resource
allocation/interstate sharing, preventive health care and public education.
(3)
Specific measures: dam/dike construction, inspection,
stream channelization, construct/protect retention basin, reforest/prevent
deforestation, contour farming and floodproof buildings.
(4)
Additional measures: establish EOC, establish communications
systems, hazard vulnerability analysis, evaluate building standards,
familiarize federal programs (insurance, grants, etc.), establish
resource checklist, land use management.
B.
Preparedness (to respond).
(1)
Definition. Preparedness activities are necessary
to the extent that mitigation measures have not or cannot, prevent
disasters. In the preparedness phase, governments, organizations and
individuals develop plans to save lives and minimize disaster damage.
Preparedness measures also seek to enhance disaster response operations.
(2)
General measures: preparedness plans, emergency exercises/training,
warning systems, emergency communications system, evacuation plans
and training, resource inventories, emergency personnel/contact lists,
mutual aid agreements and public information/education.
(3)
Specific measures: temporary levee construction, stream-flow
monitoring, ice and debris removal, sandbagging and temporary floodproofing.
(4)
Additional measures include: review and revise plans;
brief local officials; establish mutual aid/adjoining jurisdictions;
public information; review resources/forecasting, establish liaison
on county and/or state; consider water, food, electric and gas shortages,
ensure adequate fuel on hand for emergency equipment.
C.
Response (to emergency).
(1)
Definition. Response activities follow an emergency
or disaster. Generally, they are designed to provide emergency assistance
for casualties. They also seek to reduce the probability of secondary
damage and to speed recovery operations.
(2)
General measures: activate public warning, notify
public authorities, mobilize emergency personnel/equipment, emergency
medical assistance, man emergency operations centers, declare disaster/evacuate,
mobilize security forces, search and rescue and emergency suspension
of laws.
(3)
Specific measures: helicopter search and boat rescue.
(4)
Additional measures: disaster declaration, damage
assessment, activate public warning and information, mobilize emergency
personnel, mutual aid, if necessary, establish food service and sleeping
arrangements for evacuees and emergency people.
D.
Recovery (short- and long-term).
(1)
Definition. Recovery continues until all systems return
to normal or better. Short-term recovery returns vital life-support
systems to minimum operating standards. Long-term recovery may continue
for a number of years after a disaster. Their purpose is to return
life to normal or improved levels.
(2)
General measures: damage insurance/loans and grants,
temporary housing, long-term medical care, disaster unemployment insurance,
public information, health and safety education, reconstruction, counseling
programs and economic impact studies.
(3)
Specific measures: decontamination, replant crops,
pump out flooded basements, remove temporary floodproofing and monitor.
(4)
Additional measures: set up one-stop center, short-term
medical care to include inoculations for waterborne disease and rodents,
maintain a list of injured and dead, assist in expanding mortuary
services.
Upon notification by initial response units
(police, fire, medical, other) of a possible disaster/emergency situation,
the designated official, after his immediate appraisal, will alert
the local emergency operations staff and the Erie County Office of
Disaster Preparedness (see attached Alerting Procedure) and have the
following:
A.
Title and name of official declaring disaster situation.
B.
Municipality: city, town, village.
C.
Type of disaster/emergency.
D.
Area affected (limited or entire).
E.
Initial damage/destruction.
F.
Initial aid required beyond local capabilities: police,
fire, medical, shelter, other.
G.
Major access roads:
|
Blocked
|
Direction
|
|---|---|
|
__________________ from _______________________
| |
|
__________________ from _______________________
| |
|
__________________ from _______________________
| |
H.
Location of emergency operations center, if other
than that designated in plan, phone number, radio call letters, CB
channel.
I.
Aid to report to emergency operations center.
J.
Aid to report to command post.
