Community Emergency Planning in NYC - A Toolkit for Community Leaders

Emergencies in New York City

Part of being prepared is understanding what could potentially impact your community, what the City will do to respond, and what your community can do locally.

Your plan should take into consideration the resources that may become available as part of the City’s response so that your community can leverage and supplement those resources.

IN THIS SECTION:

• Overview of threats and hazards that may occur in New York City

• Ideas about what actions your community can take

• Overview of official emergency operations

THREATS AND HAZARDS IN NEW YORK CITY

Outbreaks may be naturally occurring or a form of terrorism by using certain biological agents. A pandemic is a global disease outbreak, usually caused by a new form of a virus (like the flu).

Coastal storms include nor’easters, tropical cyclones, and hurricanes. Hurricanes are categorized 1-5, with 5 being the most severe. Coastal storms can cause flooding, structural damage to buildings, transportation service failures, and widespread power outages.

An earthquake is the sudden, rapid shaking of the ground caused by two blocks of earth slipping past each other beneath the surface. Although NYC does not sit on a major fault line, earthquakes can and have affected the area. A dense population and a high volume of built infrastructure amplify the city’s risk.

Extreme heat is one of the most common hazards facing NYC. It is defined by temperatures that hover 10 degrees or more above the average high, last for prolonged periods of time, and are accompanied by high humidity. People most at risk during heat emergencies are laborers or individuals who spend time outdoors, seniors, children, and people with health issues or without adequate cooling devices in their homes. 

Fire is the most common emergency in NYC. In 2015 there were over 45,000 fires (Source: FDNY). Brush fires can also occur when temperatures climb and vegetation dries out, which puts the city’s grasslands at risk.

Floods account for more than $1 billion in property loss in the United States each year. There are many types of flooding: flash flooding caused by intense rain and thunderstorms; inland flooding from heavy rain; and coastal flooding from storm surge. Flooding can cause structural damage to buildings, disrupt transportation services, and lead to power outages.

A chemical or hazmat emergency could be an intentional or accidental release of a toxic gas, liquid, or solid that can poison people or the environment. This could come from anywhere these materials are used, transported, or manufactured. 

Tornadoes account for dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries nationwide each year. Tornadoes are typically created by powerful thunderstorms, but sometimes accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land. Most tornado-related damage results from wind and wind-blown debris, as well as large hail. 

POWER: Prolonged power outages are potentially life-threatening and can cause major economic losses. Power outages occur most often during the summer months, when there is a high demand on the power grid or as a result of storm damage or system failure. 

NATURAL GAS: Natural gas is odorless, but a harmless chemical odor is added so leaks are easy to detect. Gas leaks can be flammable and have caused explosions. 

WATER: Water main breaks, drought, and water contamination can affect water quality and use. A 10-degree change in air or water temperature may also cause water main pipes to contract or expand, making them fragile. A break halts water supply and can cause property damage, street and sidewalk closures.

Winter weather, including snow, ice, and freezing temperatures can cause traffic accidents, disruption of services, fires from improper heater use, overexertion (usually from shoveling snow), hypothermia and frostbite. Nor’easters—coastal storms that combine typical winter storm hazards with high winds and coastal flooding—can knock out power, flood homes and roads, and cause structural damage.

THREATS AND HAZARDS: WHAT CAN YOUR COMMUNITY DO?

All emergencies are different. Some are “notice” events, which are events that you know are coming, like hurricanes and heat waves. “No-notice” events occur without any warning, like fires and utility disruptions. Regardless of having advance warning of an emergency, there are several key response roles that communities can play.

COMMUNICATE EMERGENCY INFORMATION: notify your community about what is going on; spread the word about proper precautions and available resources.

ORGANIZE RESIDENTS: coordinate community members, identify and assign tasks.

ASSESS + REPORT NEEDS: identify any unmet needs and communicate with the City to try to meet those needs.

CLEAN UP: help clean up the neighborhood and remove debris. (Remember to inform people about taking proper precautions.)

REBUILD: help rebuild destroyed property or repair essential infrastructure. For health and safety reasons, these tasks should be done with proper permits by trained individuals or under their supervision.

CHECK ON NEIGHBORS: have community members check on, help, and report back on individuals in need of assistance.

MANAGE DONATIONS + VOLUNTEERS: organize volunteers, intake, and distribution centers.

RESPONSE AND RECOVERY OPERATIONS

The City plans for a variety of threats and hazards. When large-scale emergencies require various agencies to respond, NYC Emergency Management opens the City’s Emergency Operations Center where agencies can communicate and coordinate tasks. During federally-declared disasters, local, State, and Federal agencies coordinate efforts through the Emergency Operations Center as well.

Use the next several pages to learn more about specific operations the government coordinates in response to emergencies.

Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) is a nonprofit membership-based organization that builds resiliency in communities nationwide. It serves as the forum where organizations share knowledge and resources throughout the disaster cycle - preparation, response, recovery and mitigation - to help disaster survivors and their communities.

New York City Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NYCVOAD) is the local affiliate of NVOAD and is represented in the City’s Emergency Operations Center.

If you represent an organization that is interested in learning more  about NYCVOAD, email newyorkcityvoad@gmail.com.

EXAMPLE: HURRICANE SANDY RECOVERY

OCTOBER TO DECEMBER:

• City, State, and Federal resources are activated for assistance.

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and grassroots networks mobilize to assist residents.

• Governor makes a formal request for Federal aid.

• FEMA initiates Individual Assistance program.

JANUARY TO MARCH:

• Congress passes a disaster relief act, which includes money for NYC resiliency initiatives and a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for housing assistance.

• Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) opens.

• Long Term Recovery Groups are created throughout NYC to bring together grassroots and voluntary rebuild organizations and to address needs.

APRIL TO JUNE:

• New York Disaster Interfaith Services convenes the Sandy Unmet Needs Roundtable.

• NYC Build It Back begins rebuild program in June 2013, NGOs continue to assist homeowners with rebuilding.

EVACUATION + TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

TRIGGER:

• Severe impacts expected from approaching weather.

WHAT DOES THE CITY DO?

• When an evacuation order is issued, various agencies work together to coordinate public information, roadway management, and the use of public transportation to support individuals evacuating.

• The City coordinates transportation to evacuation centers for individuals with disabilities or access/functional needs who need assistance evacuating. (Individuals in need should call 311 to request assistance.)

• The State may decide to shut down public transportation 6-8 hours ahead of when sustained winds reach 39 mph or higher and transportation becomes unsafe. The City will will support the shut down through messaging and coordinating the flow of traffic.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Know Your Zone: Know whether your community is located in a hurricane evacuation zone and take steps to prepare.

• If the Mayor issues an evacuation order for your zone, help spread the word to your community, and evacuate! People who cannot stay with friends or family can seek shelter at one of the City’s evacuation centers.

• Check on your neighbors - people with disabilities or access/functional needs who need assistance evacuating should call 311 as soon as possible or 911 if it is an emergency.

 COASTAL STORM EVACUATION TIMELINE

SHELTERS + SERVICE CENTERS

TRIGGERS:

• If a coastal storm evacuation order is issued, the City will open up evacuation centers and shelters.

• The City opens service centers following an emergency where impacted residents need multiple services.

WHAT DOES THE CITY DO?

• At evacuation centers, evacuees can access medical screening, animal assistance, and family reunification before being transported to a shelter:

  • Emergency shelters provide basic provisions such as food, water, baby formula, blankets, medical goods, and supplies for people with disabilities or access/functional needs.

  • Special medical needs (SMN) shelters are established for evacuees who do not require hospital or nursing home care, but need specialized assistance.

• Shelters and service centers provide basic accommodations, such as language interpretation, to make services accessible to all.

• Depending on the emergency, service centers may provide any of the following:

  • Housing assistance

  • Identification replacement

  • Assistance with personal property replacement

  • Immigration assistance

  • Insurance information

  • Legal services and small business assistance

  • Assistance for pets and pet owners

  • Mental health and/or spiritual care

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Spread the word: make residents aware of any resources that become available.

• Help officials identify gaps in services.

• Remind people that monetary donations (instead of goods) are more immediately useful in the aftermath of disasters.

• Join your local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and get trained to help support shelter and service center operations.

POWER DISRUPTION

TRIGGER:

• Power outages that impact thousands of customers for several hours or more.

WHAT DOES THE CITY DO?

• The City monitors the status of its electrical system to assess the risks and extent of widespread disruption and notifies relevant agencies and stakeholders.

• Various agencies and utility companies coordinate efforts to reduce load levels and identify and help affected populations.

• During disruptions impacting more than 5,000 households for over 48 hours, the City may activate the Post Emergency Canvassing Operation (PECO) to survey affected areas.

DID YOU KNOW?

New York State law requires that all utility companies maintain lists of customers with a serious medical hardship and establish procedures for notifying them within 24 hours of an outage.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Check the NYC Emergency Management website and social media to find resources or call 311.

• Check in on your neighbors- If power will be out for an extended amount of time, offer to help individuals relocate to a shelter, hotel or friend or relative’s home that has power. Offer to help pick up groceries or deliver supplies. Only do so when authorities say it is safe to travel.

• Encourage individuals who use life-sustaining equipment to register with their utility provider.

FEEDING + COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION

TRIGGERS:

• Access to usual supply chains for food, water, and medical services and equipment is disrupted.

• Disruption of utilities, such as electricity, cooking gas or water thatprevents the public from safely storing and preparing food.

WHAT DOES THE CITY DO?

• Maintains an emergency stockpile designed to support life, safety, and hygiene for 70,000 people for seven days. Examples of standard items include: food, water, cots, blankets, clothing, Diabetes testing strips, mobility aids, and over-the-counter medicine.

• The Food Access Lead Team, made up of non-profit, public and private organizations, implements the Emergency Feeding Strategy to provide residents with food and water through shelters, fixed meal distribution sites or mobile feeding units.

• The Emergency Feeding Strategy may also include commodity distribution points (CDPs), which are temporary sites set up in affected communities to provide life-sustaining commodities like food, water, ice, and baby formula.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Check Emergency Management’s website or social media or 311 to find out what operations are activated.

• Organize your community to check in on your neighbors and work with your elected officials to share information and communicate unmet needs.

• Join your local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to be trained on how to support emergency operations like CDPs.

EXTREME WEATHER

TRIGGERS:

• A heat index above 100ºF for 1+ day, or above 95ºF for 2+ days.

• Snow accumulation greater than six inches, high temperatures below 15ºF for a 48-hour period or a wind chill below 0º F.

• Nor’easters: coastal storms that combine typical winter storm hazards with high winds and coastal flooding.

• Tornadoes: funnel shaped clouds that form after large thunderstorms.

WHAT DOES THE CITY DO?

• Alerts the public of risks and available resources.

• Monitors and assists homeless individuals.

• Monitors vulnerable infrastructure such as power and water systems.

Extreme Heat:

• Opens cooling centers to help prevent heat-related illness or death. Cooling centers are air conditioned spaces such as senior centers, community centers, public libraries, and other public facilities that typically operate during daytime hours and are free and open to the public.

• Conveys information to service providers through the Advance Warning System (https://advancewarningsystemnyc.org).

• Distributes hydrant spray caps to conserve water (opening hydrants without a cap results in a drop in local water pressure and threatens firefighting capabilities).

Winter Weather:

• Deploys plows and salt spreaders to clear 6,300 miles of streets.

• Dispatches tow trucks and closes roadways and airports as needed.

• Responds when landlords do not provide adequate heat to tenants.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Call 311 to report dangerous conditions, electricity or heat loss, or if you see someone in need of assistance.

• Check on your neighbors.

• Members of the community over 18 years of age can request spray caps from FDNY firehouses.

• Clear snow and dangling ice from roofs, curb cuts, and hydrants.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)

COASTAL STORM EVACUATION

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE TO LEAVE MY HOME?

Use the Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder at NYC.gov/knowyourzone or call 311 to find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone. Stay informed about evacuation orders by listening to the news and registering for Notify NYC, the City’s official source for information about emergency events.

WHAT IS AN EVACUATION CENTER?

An evacuation center is a safe facility for evacuees who have no other place to stay in the event of a coastal storm. Evacuation centers are often co-located with shelters. Once at an evacuation center, evacuees will be transported to the appropriate shelter as needed.

HOW WILL I GET TO AN EVACUATION CENTER?

People should use their normal means of transportation to evacuate while it is still safe to travel. People who live in an evacuation zone and need assistance evacuating to a center may call 311 to request assistance. 

SHELTERS + SERVICE CENTERS

DO I NEED TO BE A U.S. CITIZEN TO ENTER A SHELTER OR EVACUATION CENTER?

Evacuation centers and emergency shelters are open to anyone, regardless of immigration status.

CAN I STAY WITH MY FAMILY?

Yes. Families will be able to shelter together. At shelters, households with children will be separated from households without children and single men and women. Staff will work with those staying in the shelter to resolve any issues or concerns.

I DON’T SPEAK ENGLISH. WILL THERE BE TRANSLATORS ON-SITE?

Information will be available in other languages and formats such as American Sign Language. Anyone can request interpretation and translation services as well.

CAN I BRING MY ANIMAL?

Yes. Service animals are always allowed and will not be separated from their owners. Pets are also allowed but will be kept in a separate area at the shelter. Owners should bring any relevant paperwork for their pets.

FEEDING + COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION

WHAT IS AVAILABLE AT A COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION POINT (CDP)?

At a CDP, life-sustaining commodities, like food, water, and baby formula are available.

HOW CAN I GET TO A CDP?

Use your usual means of transportation to get to a CDP. Stay connected to public information channels to know where CDP sites are located.

WHAT IF I CAN’T GET TO A CDP?

Work with your neighbors or friends to help get items from a CDP. People looking to pick up food for others can work with the CDP site manager to assess and potentially fulfill needs for items already being distributed. Call 311 for alternative food access options. 

POWER DISRUPTION RESPONSE

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY POWER GOES OUT?

Report outages to your utility provider. Check on neighbors that may need assistance during an outage.

WILL THE CITY CHECK ON RESIDENTS?

The City will survey impacted areas after a prolonged power outage to determine critical needs. However, people should have an emergency plan that includes stockpiling food, water, and supplies for at least seven days.

WHAT CAN I DO IF I DEPEND ON LIFE SUSTAINING EQUIPMENT?

Make sure you plan for your specific medical needs and have backup power ready. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. As a preparedness step, if you rely on life sustaining equipment, register with your utility provider. 

EXTREME HEAT RESPONSE

WHAT IS A COOLING CENTER?

Cooling centers are air-conditioned facilities—such as libraries, community centers, senior centers and NYCHA facilities—that are open to the public during heat emergencies.

WHO CAN ACCESS COOLING CENTERS AND HOW CAN I FIND MY NEAREST COOLING CENTER?

Any New Yorker looking for relief from the heat can use cooling centers. Use the Cooling Center Finder (nyc.gov/beattheheat or call 311/TTY 212-639-9675) to find your nearest center. Before going to a cooling center, call the site directly to find out more details about the center’s accessibility and hours.

HOW CAN I PREVENT A POWER OUTAGE DURING EXTREME HEAT?

Conserve energy as much as possible to avoid power disruptions:

• Set your air conditioner thermostat no lower than 78 degrees.

• Only use the air conditioner when you are home.

• Turn off nonessential appliances.

WINTER WEATHER RESPONSE

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

• Do not to travel on roads except when necessary. Give sanitation and emergency workers space on the road.

• Avoid overexertion when shoveling.

• Assist neighbors with clearing their property.

• Clear hydrants of snow so that they are visible to the fire department.

• Anyone who sees a homeless individual or family out in the cold should call 311 and an outreach team will assist them.