Section 30-101
§ 30-101 Definitions. As used in this title:
a. "Office" shall mean the New York city office of emergency
management and shall have the same meaning as set forth in section four
hundred ninety-five of the New York city charter.
b. "Commissioner" shall mean the commissioner of the New York city
office of emergency management.
c. "Emergency support functions" shall mean a functional area of
response activity established to facilitate coordinated delivery of
assistance required to save lives, protect property and health, maintain
public safety, and otherwise respond to emergency conditions.
Section 30-102
§ 30-102 Protocols regarding weather emergencies. a. The commissioner
shall develop protocols that shall include, but need not be limited to,
the following: (1) what specific actions the office may take when the
national weather service forecasts the occurrence of certain specified
severe weather conditions, as determined by the office, including
identifying what other agencies or offices of city, state or federal
government shall be contacted or consulted; (2) based on the national
weather service consultation and inter-agency communications, whether
and at what level to activate emergency support functions; and (3) the
circumstances under which the office would call upon the state emergency
management office or other jurisdictions for assistance, or request
mutual aid assistance from the state or other jurisdictions pursuant to
article two-B of the executive law.
b. On or before November fifteenth, 2011 and every November fifteenth
thereafter, the commissioner shall issue a report to the council setting
forth the actions taken by the office pursuant to the protocols issued
in accordance with subdivision a of this section.
Section 30-103
§ 30-103 Annual snow preparedness and response report.
a. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "snow event" shall mean
any snowfall equal to or in excess of six inches within a period of
twenty-four hours in any of the five boroughs based on the department of
sanitation's measurements.
b. No later than November fifteenth, two thousand eleven, and on or
before every November fifteenth thereafter, the commissioner shall
submit to the council and make available to the public on the city's
website a report describing the city's preparation for and response to
all snow events during the preceding twelve-month period. Such report
shall include but not be limited to the following:
(1) a list of all snow events during the reporting period;
(2) a list of all city and state agencies or offices and private
entities that acted on behalf of the city that were involved in snow
event preparation and response, including a description of the
responsibilities of each such agency, office or entity. Such agencies or
offices, if involved in such preparation or response, shall include, but
need not be limited to, the department of education, office of emergency
management, department of environmental protection, fire department,
office of the chief medical examiner, department of parks and
recreation, police department, department of sanitation, department of
transportation and to the extent information is available, the state
office of emergency management, New York city housing authority,
metropolitan transportation authority and port authority of New York and
New Jersey;
(3) an assessment of the performance of each such agency or office for
each snow event during the reporting period, including an assessment of
interagency coordination;
(4) a list of any snow-related emergency warnings or declarations
issued by the city or state during the reporting period and actions
taken pursuant to each such warning or declaration; and
(5) recommendations for improving city snow event preparation and
response including, but not limited to, revisions to snow management
plans and other relevant protocols of any city agency or office.
c. No later than November fifteenth two thousand twelve and every
November fifteenth thereafter, the report required pursuant to
subdivision b of this section shall include:
(1) an inventory of all city-owned snow management equipment and
resources that were used during any snow event;
(2) an inventory of privately-owned snow management equipment and
resources used by the city during any snow event, an assessment of how
such equipment and resources were deployed and overseen by city agencies
or offices and strategies, contracts or agreements used to ensure that
such snow management equipment and resources were available to the city;
and
(3) the number of individuals who registered with the city to work
during any snow event, and assessment on how such individuals were
deployed and overseen by city agencies or offices and strategies,
contracts or agreements used to ensure that such individuals were
available to the city.
Section 30-104
§ 30-104 Food and water access plan. In consultation with appropriate
federal, state, and city government agencies, the commissioner shall
develop or update, no later than December first, two thousand thirteen,
a food and water access plan to be utilized after coastal storms and
other severe weather and natural disaster events where such events may
disrupt access to food and water or may impact the ability to purchase,
prepare or consume food or water. Such plan shall include, but not be
limited to the following features, provided that nothing herein shall be
construed to interfere with the ability of agencies responding to an
emergency to implement plans, modify plans, or take steps not described
in any written plan, in a manner appropriate to circumstances particular
to that emergency:
a. a description of how the city will provide access to food and
water, including but not limited to how and to what extent the city will
disseminate information to the public about the availability of food and
water services; manage requests for support from emergency,
not-for-profit entities that provide food and water; arrange for or
coordinate disaster feeding; coordinate the efforts of food benefits
programs, food donations, food business and emergency food providers;
and work to restore the public, private and non-profit sectors' ability
to provide access to food and water;
b. a mechanism to assess the city's food and water needs prior to and
after such conditions and incidents arise;
c. a description of how the city personnel responsible for
implementing such plan will be identified, including how a clear
hierarchy and points of contact of such personnel will be established;
d. criteria for how food and water distribution points are identified
and how such distribution points will be publicized to ensure that the
public is aware of the locations of such distribution points;
e. a mechanism to provide that recipients of food benefits have
continued access to such benefits during and immediately after such
events and that affected communities experiencing transportation
disruptions can access emergency food benefits locally;
f. identification of contracts, if any, that can be activated during
and immediately after such events for vendors that can provide and
distribute food and water, including but not limited to, hot food
providers, trucks and drivers;
g. criteria for assessing transportation routes that allow for the
distribution of food and water that accounts for emergency road and
bridge closures;
h. a mechanism to provide that, to the extent practicable, all public
communications, written or otherwise, are available in the most commonly
spoken languages of affected communities; and
i. a mechanism to consult community based organizations and service
providers with relevant expertise in regard to the development of such
plan.
Section 30-105
§ 30-105 Sheltering plan. The commissioner, in consultation with
relevant federal, state and local agencies, shall develop or update a
sheltering plan no later than December first, two thousand thirteen,
that anticipates the operation of shelters for short, medium or
long-term periods of time as a result of coastal storms and other severe
weather and natural disaster events. Such plan shall include, but not be
limited to the following features, provided that nothing herein shall be
construed to interfere with the ability of agencies responding to an
emergency to implement plans, modify plans, or take steps not described
in any written plan, in a manner appropriate to circumstances particular
to that emergency:
a. a description of the types of evacuation centers and shelters,
number and location of evacuation centers, how persons are transferred
from an evacuation center to a shelter, and a mechanism to identify
locations to be used as shelters, including shelters that are adequate
for habitability for long-term stays;
b. a description of shelter staffing and management, including but not
limited to an explanation of how key shelter staff positions such as
shelter managers and clinical staff will be determined and how shelters
will be adequately staffed with trained medical personnel to the extent
necessary for each such shelter's needs;
c. a mechanism for clearly identifying to residents, volunteers and
other staff at each shelter the individuals filling key staff positions
at such shelter;
d. a mechanism to provide that to the extent practicable any shelter
manager coordinates with a shelter manager on the immediately following
shift at such shelter regarding requests for supplies, shelter
conditions and other significant issues at such shelter;
e. a mechanism to provide that there is adequate food and water at
every shelter and that food options other than shelf stable items and
meals ready to eat are available at any such shelter that is to be used
for long term stays;
f. a reassessment of the emergency shelter supply stockpile at least
annually, as well as immediately before and after such plan is
activated, to determine whether appropriate supplies are available and
adequate;
g. to the extent practicable, a plan for shower and laundry facilities
for persons who remain in shelters after three days;
h. a mechanism for tracking the daily census at each shelter,
including the number of persons with special medical needs, the number
of persons who enter and exit each day, and to the extent practicable, a
general description of the locations to which such persons exited;
i. a mechanism to track the medical needs of persons at shelters who
request assistance in meeting such needs, including but not limited to
needed medications and placement in the proper type of shelter;
j. a mechanism to advise persons who receive federal, state or city
public assistance benefits of how to avoid disruption of such benefits
due to an inability to meet program requirements as a result of their
stay in such shelter;
k. a mechanism to provide that all shelters are made usable to persons
with disabilities to the extent practicable and to identify facilities
in the shelter system that are accessible to persons with disabilities;
l. a description of how persons, including those with disabilities,
are assigned to shelter facilities; and
m. a mechanism to consult community based organizations and service
providers with relevant expertise in regard to the development of such
plan.
Section 30-106
§ 30-106 Community recovery plan. The commissioner shall develop or
update, no later than December first, two thousand thirteen, a community
recovery plan to be utilized before, during and after coastal storms and
other severe weather and natural disaster events. Such plan shall
specify steps that the office, along with relevant agencies and other
partners, shall take in preparation for, during and immediately after
such events. Such plan shall include, but not be limited to, the
following features, provided that nothing herein shall be construed to
interfere with the ability of agencies responding to an emergency to
implement plans, modify plans, or take steps not described in any
written plan, in a manner appropriate to circumstances particular to
that emergency event:
a. the establishment of community recovery directors and deputy
recovery directors or other such similar positions for each of the five
boroughs, where appropriate for the geographic impact of the emergency
event, including:
(1) the criteria for how such directors, deputies or other such
similar positions are chosen; and
(2) a description of the basic duties and responsibilities of such
directors, deputies or other such similar positions including, but not
limited to: the timing of deployment in the field following such events;
how such director and deputies or other such similar positions will be
responsible to act as the main points of contact for providing general
services and fulfilling the most critical needs of individuals in
impacted areas; how such director, deputies or other such similar
positions will work with federal and state representatives to assist
impacted individuals with access to emergency disaster benefits; and how
such director, deputies or other such similar positions will work with
community based organizations, service providers and volunteers in
recovery assistance operations;
b. a description of ways to leverage the participation of community
based organizations, service providers, and volunteers with the goal of
commencing a unified recovery assistance operation as rapidly as
possible;
c. a description of ways to leverage federal and state resources in an
expedited manner to provide that resources from all levels of government
become available as soon as practicable after such events take place;
d. the creation of a uniform information sharing and distribution plan
to be used by each community recovery director to properly inform
residents, elected officials and the press about the services available
through the community recovery director and his or her team on the
ground, and ways to contact community recovery personnel;
e. the establishment of field recovery offices in or near affected
communities as soon as practicable after such events take place;
f. a description of how the administrative and functional items
necessary for immediate and successful operation of field recovery
offices will be established; and
g. an information dissemination strategy that identifies and utilizes
major hubs and distribution centers, including partnering with non-city
distribution sites, to share information about services available to
clients, elected officials, and press, and that requires that to the
extent practicable, all public communications, written or otherwise, are
available in the most commonly spoken languages of affected communities.
Section 30-107
§ 30-107 Small business and non-profit organization recovery plan. a.
(1) The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of small
business services and other government or private organizations having
expertise in non-profit organization and insurance matters, shall
develop or update no later than December first, two thousand thirteen, a
small business and non-profit organization recovery plan to be utilized
after coastal storms and other severe weather and natural disaster
events.
(2) In developing such plan, the department of small business services
shall, in consultation with other city agencies, chambers of commerce,
or other private organizations having expertise in such matters, work
with small business owners and non-profit organizations throughout New
York city to identify critical resources necessary for the continued
functioning of such small businesses and non-profit organizations during
and after such events.
(3) The plan developed or updated in accordance with this section
shall include but need not be limited to the following features,
provided that nothing herein shall be construed to interfere with the
ability of agencies responding to an emergency to implement plans,
modify plans, or take steps not described in any written plan, in a
manner appropriate to circumstances particular to that emergency: (i) an
evaluation of the potential impact of disruptions on small businesses
and non-profit organizations as a result of such events, including a
mechanism to conduct an impact analysis for major categories of small
businesses and non-profit organizations, as determined by the
commissioner of small business services, in order to identify
disruptions unique to each such category, and the implementation of
measures to prevent or mitigate such disruptions and to support recovery
of the small business and non-profit sectors; (ii) the establishment of
a voluntary database of small businesses and non-profit organizations,
including but not limited to utilizing any existing database of small
businesses and non-profit organizations maintained by the department of
small business services, to provide that such businesses and
organizations receive alerts regarding such events, recovery assistance,
and other relevant information and to conduct outreach with such small
businesses and non-profit organizations to encourage their registration
in such database; (iii) conducting a survey of small business owners and
non-profit organizations after such events to identify resources
necessary for recovery, which shall include but not be limited to an
assessment of small businesses such as whether a business is open,
closed or partially in operation, damage to business facilities, lost
revenues, the number of employees affected and whether there is a plan
for employees to return to such business if such employees are unable to
work, whether additional workers are needed or hired to assist with
recovery efforts, a description of the type of assistance necessary for
recovery, the type and amount of insurance that such business has, and
whether such business has filed insurance claims and the status of such
claims; (iv) strategies to inform such small businesses and non-profit
organizations about how to obtain such resources before, during and
after such events; and (v) coordination with non-profit organizations
that are capable of assisting small business owners with loan and grant
applications, and business counseling services to facilitate and
expedite recovery.
b. To the extent practicable, all public communications, written or
otherwise, with small businesses and non-profit organizations as set
forth in this section, shall be available in the most commonly spoken
languages of affected communities.
Section 30-108
§ 30-108 Traffic management plan. The commissioner shall develop or
update, no later than December first, two thousand thirteen, a traffic
management plan in consultation with other city agencies and relevant
governmental entities, to be utilized during and after coastal storms
and other severe weather and natural disaster events where such events
severely impact automotive, subway, and/or commuter train transportation
in the city of New York. Such plan shall include but not be limited to
the following features, provided that nothing herein shall be construed
to interfere with the ability of agencies responding to an emergency to
implement plans, modify plans, or take steps not described in any
written plan, in a manner appropriate to circumstances particular to
that emergency:
a. the installation of back-up power capability, including but not
limited to the consideration of the effectiveness of installing solar
power and other alternative energy sources with respect to street lights
and traffic control signals to keep the roadway network functioning to
the maximum possible extent during power outages;
b. alternative transportation options provided by governmental and/or
private entities to be used in the event of subway service and/or major
roadway shutdowns, including but not limited to expanded bus and ferry
service;
c. alternative bus routing, including but not limited to criteria for
the closing of streets to all traffic except buses;
d. the expanded use of vehicles licensed by the taxi and limousine
commission;
e. some accessible transportation options for persons with special
needs;
f. closing or partially closing certain streets or designating that
one or more lanes of traffic on such streets are closed to traffic
except for emergency vehicles and/or vehicles driven by certain
individuals involved in rescue, recovery and clean-up operations;
g. where appropriate, recommending to the appropriate state
transportation authorities the elimination or reduction of fares on
buses, subways and ferries; and
h. a mechanism to provide that, to the extent practicable, all public
communications, written or otherwise, are available in the most commonly
spoken languages of affected communities.
Section 30-109
§ 30-109 Fuel management plan. The commissioner shall develop or
update, no later than December first, two thousand thirteen, a fuel
management plan in consultation with other city agencies and other
relevant governmental entities, to be utilized during and after coastal
storms and other severe weather and natural disaster events where such
events may disrupt or have disrupted the fuel supply in the city of New
York. Such plan shall include but not be limited to the following
features, provided that nothing herein shall be construed to interfere
with the ability of agencies responding to an emergency to implement
plans, modify plans, or take steps not described in any written plan, in
a manner appropriate to circumstances particular to that emergency:
a. the procedures and criteria for determining when a fuel shortage
exists and for rationing of fuel in the event of a fuel shortage in the
city of New York;
b. the criteria for determining the amount of fuel reserves in the
city of New York that should be maintained and for what priority
purposes;
c. the establishment and maintenance of lines of communication between
the city and the industries that provide fuel to the city of New York;
d. the prioritization of fuel access for persons involved in rescue,
recovery and clean-up operations, including but not limited to emergency
services and critical health, public safety and sanitation personnel;
e. a process for assessing transportation routes to maximize the
delivery of fuel within the city of New York; and
f. a mechanism to provide that, to the extent practicable, all public
communications, written or otherwise, are available in the most commonly
spoken languages of affected communities.
Section 30-110
§ 30-110 Special medical needs shelters. The commissioner, in
consultation with relevant federal, state and local agencies, shall
develop or update a plan no later than December first, two thousand
thirteen for the tracking of persons in special medical needs shelters
established as a result of coastal storms and other severe weather and
natural disaster events. Such plan shall include but not be limited to
the following features, provided that nothing herein shall be construed
to interfere with the ability of agencies responding to an emergency to
implement plans, modify plans, or take steps not described in any
written plan, in a manner appropriate to circumstances particular to
that emergency:
a. a mechanism to adequately track persons who enter or exit a special
medical needs shelter;
b. a mechanism for the dissemination of bracelets or other wearable
identification devices to be used on a voluntary basis by any person
entering a special medical needs shelter if such device has not been
provided by the state, which shall include to the extent permitted by
state and federal law such person's name, address, emergency contact
information, and information provided regarding the medical needs of
such person, or an identification number or other identifier that will
enable the shelter operator to locate such information;
c. a mechanism to track the medical needs of any person using a
special medical needs shelter if such mechanism has not been provided by
the state and to the extent information regarding such medical needs is
available, including but not limited to needed medications;
d. a mechanism for enabling persons who use special medical needs
shelters and who do not object to disclosure of their location to be
contacted by their family members and guardians, including the
establishment of a designated point of contact for such information and
a description of how such mechanism will be publicized; and
e. a mechanism for consulting community based organizations and
service providers with relevant expertise, including but not limited to
those representing the interests of individuals with special medical
needs, in regard to the development of such plan.
Section 30-111
§ 30-111 Plan for outreach and recovery to vulnerable and homebound
individuals. The commissioner, in consultation with relevant federal,
state and local agencies, shall develop or update, no later than
December first, two thousand thirteen, an outreach and recovery plan to
assist vulnerable and homebound individuals before, during and after
coastal storms and other severe weather and natural disaster events.
Such plan shall include but not be limited to the following features,
provided that nothing herein shall be construed to interfere with the
ability of agencies responding to an emergency to implement plans,
modify plans, or take steps not described in any written plan, in a
manner appropriate to circumstances particular to that emergency:
a. a description of how the office will identify, conduct outreach to,
communicate with, and otherwise assist vulnerable and homebound
individuals before, during and after the impact of such events;
b. the development of a mechanism for utilizing lists of homebound and
vulnerable individuals, to the extent consistent with applicable
confidentiality requirements, which shall include: (1) the use of
existing lists of such individuals maintained by community based
organizations, service providers and relevant agencies, including but
not limited to the department for the aging, the department of health
and mental hygiene, the department of social services/human resources
administration, and the New York city housing authority; (2) the
office's Advance Warning System or successor system; and (3) a process
whereby vulnerable and homebound individuals receive information about
how to request that they be included in such existing lists or system;
c. a description of how the office will coordinate with relevant
agencies, community based organizations and service providers to assist
such individuals before, during and after the impact of such events;
d. the creation of a Door-to-Door Task Force that will be responsible
for developing and implementing a strategy to locate and assist
vulnerable and homebound individuals, provide such individuals with
information, and assist with any recovery efforts that take place after
such events, including the delivery of necessary supplies and services;
e. a description of how information, supplies, services, and
transportation will be made available to such individuals to facilitate
the relocation of such individuals if necessary;
f. a mechanism to provide that, to the extent practicable, all public
communications, written or otherwise, are available in the most commonly
spoken languages of affected communities; and
g. a mechanism for consulting community based organizations and
service providers with relevant expertise, including but not limited to
those representing the interests of homebound and vulnerable
individuals, in regard to the development of such plan.
Section 30-112
§ 30-112 Emergency management plan reporting and review. a. The
commissioner shall provide to the city council a copy of any plan
prepared by the New York city office of emergency management for the
purpose of responding to coastal storms and other severe weather and
natural disaster events, including but not limited to any plans created
or updated in accordance with sections 30-104 through 30-111 of this
chapter. The commissioner shall also provide the city council with
updated versions of such plans within sixty days of plan revisions.
b. The commissioner shall assess any plan referenced in subdivision a
of this section whenever such plan is activated. Such assessment shall
consider the reports and recommendations issued by any task force or
commission following such activation. The commissioner shall report to
the city council any subsequent changes to such plan and provide a copy
of such updated plan to the city council, no later than sixty days after
such assessment is completed. The commissioner shall also assess any
such plan at least once every two years, whether or not such plan has
been activated, and shall report to the city council any subsequent
changes to such plan and provide a copy of such updated plan to the city
council no later than sixty days after such assessment is completed.
c. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the commissioner
shall not be required to disclose to the council portions of plans or to
report changes made to plans where disclosure of such information could
compromise the safety of the public.
Section 30-113
* § 30-113 Weather emergencies and prolonged utility outage
preparedness recommendations for residential and commercial buildings.
a. Coordinating with relevant agencies including the department of
buildings, the department of housing preservation and development, and
the fire department, the commissioner shall compile recommendations for
how residential and commercial property owners may prepare for and
communicate certain information to the tenants of such buildings in the
event of a weather emergency, a natural disaster event or a utility
outage which is expected to last for more than twenty-four hours. Such
recommendations shall include, but not be limited to:
1. Information on determining the property's flood zone and evacuation
zone;
2. The protective measures the building owner may provide or install
to protect against flooding or other damage;
3. General advice on securing items appended to the building, such as
window air conditioning units, patio furniture flower boxes, windows,
doors and other loose items, during a weather emergency or natural
disaster event;
4. General advice for buildings in flood zones on the use of
electrical and mechanical equipment when there is a flood risk;
5. The types of options available to the property owner to rent
equipment after a weather emergency, a natural disaster event or pending
the restoration of utility services;
6. The methods that the property owner may use to communicate with
tenants during and after a weather emergency, a natural disaster event
or a utility outage which is expected to last for more than twenty-four
hours and suggestions for communicating to tenants relevant building
contacts for emergencies; and
7. The contact information for relevant city agencies to determine
evacuation guidelines or learn other suggestions on how to protect
persons and property during a weather emergency, a natural disaster
event or a utility outage which is expected to last for more than
twenty-four hours.
* NB Effective May 18, 2014