NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING


SUBJECT:

Disaster Preparedness

PURPOSE:

To examine the readiness of local governments to respond to disasters.

Long Island
Tuesday
December 13, 2005
9:30 a.m.
H. Lee Dennison Building
100 Veterans Memorial Highway
Hauppauge


Recent events have led many municipalities to re-examine their readiness for natural and man-made disasters. This review is taking place at every level of government as it becomes increasingly clear that plans are essential to ensure a well-coordinated, efficient response. This hearing is being held to examine issues related to the disaster planning efforts of local governments, including intermunicipal and State cooperation.

Please see below for a list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their testimony.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to ten minutes' duration. Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committees would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committees' interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.


Robert K. Sweeney
Member of Assembly
Chair
Committee on Local Governments

RoAnn M. Destito
Member of Assembly
Chair
Committee on Governmental Operations


SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:

  1. Are the individual powers of municipalities clearly defined? For example, is it clear who can declare a state of emergency and what effect that declaration brings with it both to the municipality itself and surrounding municipalities?

  2. Section 23 of the Executive Law authorizes counties to develop disaster preparedness plans. Does this provide adequate guidance, or are statutory changes needed to provide municipalities with additional disaster planning tools?

  3. Are the planning efforts for man-made and natural disasters compatible? Has the recent emphasis on disaster preparedness impacted planning efforts for natural disasters?

  4. How are municipalities working with each other and/or the State to ensure a coordinated response in the event of a disaster?

  5. Are municipalities aware of existing Federal and State plans and available resources?

  6. Is a more centralized approach to coordination necessary and, if so, at what level of government should that centralization take place?

  7. In addition to planning for the deployment of disaster relief services, financial planning is also an important component of preparedness. Do municipalities have adequate financial resources to withstand the aftereffects of a natural or manmade disaster, or are statutory changes needed?

  8. Do municipalities that self insure have adequate resources to pay for rebuilding and reconstruction costs? Would private insurance help to mitigate the costs of rebuilding and reconstruction and/or should this alternative be encouraged? How do private insurers prepare for potential disaster claims and are their reserves adequate?

  9. Hurricane Katrina disproportionately affected vulnerable populations. How should municipal disaster plans take these vulnerable groups into account?

  10. In cases where emergency services are provided by volunteers, do municipal officials know how many volunteers would be available, and/or do municipal plans take the number of volunteers into account?


PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on Disaster Preparedness are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to:

Michelle Milot
Senior Legislative Analyst
Assembly Committee on Local Governments
Room 520 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
Email: milotm@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4363
Fax: (518) 455-5182


box I plan to attend the following public hearing on Disaster Preparedness to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Local Governments, the Committee on Governmental Operations on December 13, 2005.

box I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to ten minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.

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I will address my remarks to the following subjects:



box I do not plan to attend the above hearing.

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box I would like to be removed from the Committee mailing list.

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I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:




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