Suitor updates Niagara Town Board on
emergency response measures

Communities have to respond to local emergencies first

by Ralph Schwarz
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, December 8, 2005

In the light of recent natural disasters as well as possible power outages or even terrorist attacks, the Town of Niagara is now taking a proactive approach to efficient local emergency response management.

Two months after the Town Board adopted the standards set forth by National Incident Management System in regards to emergency management, Police Chief H. James Suitor updated the council members on the progress of setting up a written emergency response plan.

“There’s no reason that we will not meet or exceed these standards by next year,” Suitor said at the Dec. 1 Town Board work session. “There is no doubt in my mind that we will be the model town in this county meeting and exceeding these standards.”

Ahead Of Curve

A presidential directive requires state, local and tribal governments to adopt the NIMS standards by the end of 2005. Failing to adopt these standards could make the respective municipalities ineligible to receive Homeland Security funds and federal grants.

“We are way ahead of the curve on that,” Suitor said, adding that he and Town Supervisor Steven Richards are already working rewriting the town’s comprehensive emergency management plan. “It’s not a requirement of the Town of Niagara; it is a requirement for everybody in the United States.”

Under the NIMS compliance requirements, each municipality has to establish a timeframe and develop a strategy for full NIMS implementation. In addition to setting up an emergency response plan and incident command system, all elected officials as well as town personnel working in public safety and public utilities have to undergo special training by the end of 2006.

“There is no doubt about it that we will meet our requirements for 2006,” Suitor said. “We are that far ahead.”

Two NIMS Classes Mandatory

Elected officials and town personnel have to undergo at least two NIMS classes and familiarize themselves with the town’s written procedures in case of an emergency. The two classes are also mandatory for other emergency response workers, including ambulance and medical services, fire departments and public health. Most of the classes for town personnel will be taught in-house, Suitor said.

“It doesn’t matter how big anything gets, it always starts at the local level and always ends at the local level,” he said. “The supervisor designates the beginning of a state of emergency; the supervisor designates the end of a state of emergency.”

Richards pointed out that the respective town governments are responsible for emergency response in the first 72 hours after disaster strikes.

“The federal government will tell you officially that you are required to handle your incident for 72 hours,” he said. “After that, you should expect federal resources.”

Only Municipality In County

Suitor said he believes that the Town of Niagara is currently the only municipality in Niagara County to have adopted the NIMS standards.

“I’m not aware of any other town in Niagara County,” he said, adding that the Town and Village of Lewiston might soon follow adopting the NIMS requirements.

The Town of Niagara has been working on a written emergency response plan following the 2003 power outage along the Eastern Seaboard. With no written-out plan in place, the town’s public safety units experienced extreme difficulties coordinating and communicating the appropriate emergency response measures.

Since then, the town has purchased several generators to power traffic lights in the event of a long-lasting power loss. In addition, Suitor secured a $75,000 federal grant to purchase a mobile command unit to uphold communication and coordinate emergency response measures.