Emergency Plan

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN FOR THE TOWN OF CANDOR

PREFACE

1. A wide variety of emergencies caused by nature or man may result in the loss of life or property to the citizens of the Town of Candor.
   
   
2. The Town of Candor government must provide the leadership and direction to prevent, mitigate and respond to these emergencies or disasters.
   
   
3. To meet these responsibilities the Town of Candor will implement this plan in the event of an emergency or disaster.
   
   
4. It shall be the responsibility and duty of the senior elected official, or their successor, to declare the existence of such an emergency condition.
   
   
5. National Incident Management System (NIMS) principle will be followed by the Town in any response and/or recovery phase of any disaster or emergency.
   
   

TOWN OF CANDOR DISASTER RESPONSE PLAN

PURPOSE

The purpose of this plan is to minimize disasters and their effects, provide for effective local responses when disasters occur and facilitate local recovery.

AUTHORITY

The New York State Executive Law Article 2-B. Under this law, the Town of Candor is authorized to prepare a Disaster 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 or affecting the Town of Candor. The Town Supervisor or their successor is the only person who may request assistance from the next higher level of government. For the Town of Candor the next higher level of government would be the Tioga County Governing body.

A line of succession shall be set up to designate who shall act as the agent for the Town of Candor when the Town Supervisor is unavailable or their 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 the steps required by Article 2-B.

LINE OF SUCCESSION

1. Town Supervisor
   
   
2. Deputy Town Supervisor
   
   
3. Any Available Town Councilmember
   
   

PREPAREDNESS

The Town Supervisor shall, in consultation with others, which he/she deems appropriate, make such plans as he/she deems necessary to prevent and minimize the effects of disaster. These steps shall include, but not be limited to;

1. Identification of potential disasters and disaster sites.
   
   
2. Recommend disaster prevention projects.
   
   
3. Suggest revisions and additions to building and safety codes and other lands use programs.
   
   
4. Take such other measures as reasonably can be taken to prevent disasters or mitigate their impact.
   
   

MOBILIZATION

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) shall be located at the Town of Candor Town Hall, located at 101 Owego Road, Candor and Alternate Emergency Operations Center (AEOC) shall be located at the Town of Candor Fire Department, 74 Owego Road Candor. The Town Supervisor shall assess all information received from any/all town departments, Tioga County Sheriff's Office, New York State Police, Tioga County Emergency Management Office and any/all Town Board Members. The Town Supervisor may declare an emergency or disaster after all information is assessed.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Town Board members shall take all appropriate steps to prepare for any disaster or emergency and shall generally be responsible for the implementation of this and any other emergency preparedness plans. The EOC staff is not limited to those listed below nor are all those listed required.

1. Town Supervisor
   
   
2. Deputy Town Supervisor
   
   
3. Town Councilmember
   
   
4. Town Councilmember
   
   
5. Town Councilmember
   
   
6. Town Attorney
   
   
7. Town Clerk
   
   
8. Code Enforcement Officer
   
   
9. Town of Candor Highway Superintendent
   
   
10. Tioga County Sheriff or his/her designee
    
    
11. New York State Police Station Commander or his/her designee
    
    
12. Town of Candor Fire Department Chief and/or Weltonville Fire Department Chief and/or their designee
    
    

SEQUENCE OF ACTION

The Town Supervisor, Town Board members, Highway Superintendent, Town Clerk and other personnel as designated will assemble at the EOC upon notification of an emergency. An emergency notification list will be kept on file with the Town Clerk and the Tioga County Emergency Management Office.

The Supervisor or hislher designee is responsible for making the formal declaration and proper notification of a disaster or emergency. This includes:

1. Notification of the emergency or disaster in letter form will be sent to the Tioga County Clerk, the Secretary of the State of New York and the Tioga County Office of Emergency Management within seventy two (72) hours.
   
   
2. The designated Town of Candor newspaper and other desired public information sources will be notified by letter or telephone and or Tioga Countie~ Reverse 911 System outlining the disaster or emergency situation.
   
   
3. The Town of Candor Fire Service will be responsible for the direction of all action to contain and extinguish fires resulting from emergencies and the removal of trapped and injured people from damaged buildings, disaster sites and flooded areas. The local Fire Chief may call for the assistance of the Tioga County Fire Coordinator for advice and/or assistance concerning fires and rescue operations along with mutual aid assistance and any other plan deemed in the best interest of the residents of the Town of Candor. Request for aid from agencies outside the Town of Candor must have prior approval of the Town of Candor Supervisor or his/her designee.
   
   
4. When there is a need for the mass care of people the American Red Cross is the recognized lead agency responsible. The Red Cross will be notified through the Tioga County Office of Emergency Management for any action requested of them.
   
   
5. A Public Information Officer, appointed bx, and under the direct supervision of the Town of Candor Supervisor and/or his/her designee shall direct the local dissemination of emergency information to the public. This person shall also be directed to notify all county and state agencies involved in the emergency or disaster of the status and development of emergency measures that are being taken or additional assistance needed.
   
   
6. The Town of Candor Supervisor shall request the assistance of the Tioga County Sheriff's Office and/or the New York State Police in maintaining order, directing traffic and assisting in the transportation of personnel within the affected Area.
   
   
7. The Town of Candor Highway Superintendent will be responsible for maintaining essential public facilities and services to include the maintenance of streets, highways, bridges, public buildings and other vital community services. He/she will cooperate with all other agencies assisting in the emergency or disaster to restore and maintain essential services.
   
   
8. The Town of Candor Code Enforcement Officer will be responsible for any safety inspections of damaged buildings before they can be re-occupied.
   
   

DOCUMENTATION

The Town Clerk shall be responsible for the maintenance and storage of all documents generated in the EOC for the duration of the emergency or disaster.