[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of
the City of Ithaca 12-29-1993. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this plan is to designate the
responsible public officers, formulate the basic procedures and provide
guidance for coordinated action in rendering assistance to the citizens
within the City of Ithaca in the event of a disaster or emergency
which exceeds the dimensions of any individual City Department's current
mandate for response. This plan is not intended to replace any current
plan, but rather to serve as a supplement to any such current plan.
It is recognized that this plan may require adjustments and amendments,
and that the responsible public officials, location of emergency operations
and similar decisions will vary depending on the nature of the emergency.
A.
Disaster planning is based on the New York State Defense
Emergency Act,[1] 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.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Unconsolidated Laws § 9101.
B.
The City of Ithaca recognizes that planning and preparatory
actions are required before an emergency. Emergency preparedness allows
the City of Ithaca to prepare and react to emergency situations to
save life and property if the city is threatened or hit by disaster
and major emergency.
The Common Council 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.
[Amended 5-1-1996 by Ord. No. 96-6; 11-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09]
The emergency operations center for the city
will be in the Central Fire Station unless the City Manager declares
otherwise. Once the City Manager or next city officer in line has
declared that 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.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09]
The City Manager, with the assistance of the
Fire Chief, Police Chief and/or Superintendent of Public Works, functioning
either at the emergency operations center or an appropriate designated
alternative site, depending on the nature of the emergency, are responsible
for the maintenance and availability of records, documents, plans
and other materials required to discharge their and others' functions
during an emergency.
Once an emergency has been declared, designated
personnel will assemble as soon as possible at the emergency operations
center. In order 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 City of Ithaca according to the guidelines set forth
in this plan, or such other plans or procedures as may already exist
within individual responsibilities for the particular type of emergency
requiring response and management.
A.
The City Manager or the designated Emergency Coordinator
is responsible for notification and declaration of an emergency or
disaster.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09]
B.
Each department head in the City of Ithaca is responsible
for assuring maximum effectiveness and utilization of all personnel
and equipment of the department to accomplish the city's responsibilities.
Each department head will retain control of the assigned department
and implement orders received from the emergency operations center.
C.
The City of Ithaca will seek the cooperation and aid
of any or all surrounding communities in the event of an emergency
or disaster affecting surrounding areas or of such magnitude that
mutual aid is necessary. Arrangements for mutual aid should be made
prior to any emergency or disaster.
D.
The City of Ithaca should contact the County 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
City Manager and will be made to the County Director of Civil Defense
by direct phone contact or by civil defense radio network.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09]
E.
Military assistance requests will be made by the City
Manager of the City of Ithaca to the County Administrator and the
Chair of the County Board, who will forward the request to the Tompkins
County Civil Defense Office, which will forward it to the State Natural
Disaster Commission.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09]
F.
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. The Red Cross chapter responsible for the City
of Ithaca is the Tompkins County Chapter of the American Red Cross,
located at 201 West Clinton Street, in the City of Ithaca, N.Y., telephone
number 273-1900; homeless hot-line: 273-9177.
A.
City Manager.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09]
(1)
The City Manager of the City of Ithaca is responsible
for the conduct of disaster operations within the City of Ithaca.
The City Manager shall use any and all facilities, equipment, supplies,
personnel and other resources of the city in such a manner as may
be necessary or appropriate to cope with the disaster.
(2)
The City Manager shall direct the activities of all
agencies within the city against the effects of emergency in conformance
with the approved plans for the rescue and relief of the people, the
recovery and the rehabilitation of the community. The City Manager
will utilize services of the emergency operations center and its staff
for implementation of necessary measures to achieve emergency operations.
B.
The Common Council, 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 City Clerk is responsible for the maintenance
and availability for essentials records, documents and other similar
materials required during the emergency.
D.
An Emergency Coordinator shall be appointed by the
City Manager, with skills appropriate to direct the implementation
of the comprehensive plan for the emergency operations center, under
the direction of the City Manager. Also, under the direction of the
City Manager, the Emergency Coordinator coordinates the emergency
operations of the emergency operations center, prepares estimates
of the situation, advises the City Manager of operational priorities
and recommends requests for assistance from the Tompkins County Civil
Defense or other appropriate agencies.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09]
E.
The Fire Chief and fire fighters 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.
F.
The Chief of Police shall designate a Traffic Control
Officer to be part of the Emergency Operation 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 the injured to medical installations, and
assist handicapped persons by obtaining transportation and directing
them to the nearest emergency operations center. The Chief of Police
may call upon the Tompkins County Sheriff's Department and/or the
New York State Police for advice and/or assistance.
G.
The Superintendent of Public Works 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 water and sewer systems, streets, bridges, public buildings and
other vital community services, calling upon all public works and
engineering services of Tompkins County for such assistance. The Superintendent
of Public Works will work in conjunction with the local electric and
gas utility companies, the local telephone company and with any other
local utility in the restoration of the various essential services.
H.
The Director of Planning and Development or his/her
designee will be responsible for safety inspection of damaged homes
and businesses before evacuees are allowed to reoccupy such buildings.
[Amended 6-5-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-15[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided for an effective date
of 1-1-2014.
I.
A Public Information Officer will be appointed by
the City Manager of the city to direct the local dissemination of
emergency information and the issuance of news reports to the public
and notify the County Civil Defense Office on the status and development
of emergency measures, using all media of public communication.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09]
J.
If necessary, a Communications Officer will be appointed
by the City Manager to 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.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09]
K.
If needed, a Medical Officer or staff will be appointed
by the City Manager to direct all action necessary for rendering health
and medical services to the community. The Medical Officer or staff
should alert hospitals and ambulances in the area regarding anticipated
medical needs.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09]
L.
If necessary, a Supply Officer will be appointed by
the City Manager to carry out measures necessary to the emergency
handling of all local resources.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09]
M.
If necessary, a Staffing Officer will be appointed
by the City Manager to coordinate and/or direct the assignment of
personnel to the various emergency services as requested.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09]
N.
If necessary, a Transportation Officer will be appointed
by the City Manager to carry out measures necessary to the utilization
of all transportation modes for support and rescue operations.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09]
O.
Additional responsibilities and functions. All department
heads and/or those responsible for carrying out parts of the emergency
operations for the City of Ithaca shall perform their responsibilities
and functions as directed by the City Manager or the Emergency Coordinator.
[Amended 11-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-09]
It is expected that this plan will be updated
and supplemented as necessary to prepare for any disaster or major
emergency.
