About the Office of Emergency Management
About OEM
The mission of the New York State Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is to protect the lives and property of the citizens of New York State from threats posed by natural or man-made events. To fulfill this mission, OEM coordinates emergency management services with other federal and State agencies to support county and local governments. OEM routinely assists local government, volunteer organizations, and private industry through a variety of emergency management programs. These programs involve hazard identification, loss prevention, planning, training, operational response to emergencies, technical support, and disaster recovery assistance.
During disasters, OEM coordinates the emergency response of all State agencies to ensure that the most appropriate resources are dispatched to impacted areas. Since 1954, New York State has received 81 federal emergency or disaster declarations. OEM coordinated the State response and recovery efforts in all of those events, including the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
OEM's legal foundations are in the Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950 and the New York State Defense Emergency Act of 1951. Article 2-B of the New York State Executive Law, enacted in 1978, created the New York State Disaster Preparedness Commission and shifted emphasis from civil defense to all-hazards preparedness.
Administrative and program support are provided by OEM to the Disaster Preparedness Commission, which functions as the Governor's policy management group for the State's emergency management program.
Message from the Director
Welcome to the website of the New York State Office of Emergency Management, an office of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.
The New York State Office of Emergency Management (OEM) coordinates the activities of State government to protect the residents, businesses and communities of New York from natural, technological, and other disasters and emergencies.
Our mission: to identify threats and hazards, develop emergency response plans and strategies to counter those risks, provide training and exercises to improve the capabilities of communities throughout the Empire State, and coordinate disaster response and recovery operations with our partners at the federal, local, and tribal government level, as well as the private sector and non-governmental organizations.
Flooding caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, as well as the late October nor’easter that cut power to hundreds of thousands, has tested the mettle of New York's citizens, emergency managers and first responders alike. And we know from experience that the next disaster or emergency is around the corner, waiting to strike with little or no warning.
New Yorkers are resilient - but no one can survive a disaster alone. That's why New York State OEM will continue its mission and strengthen partnerships, so that the people and communities of the Empire State are better protected today than they were yesterday.
I hope you find this website a valuable resource in learning more about New York State OEM and how you can become better prepared for emergencies. We value any comments or suggestions you may have. Thank you for taking the time to visit our website - please return often.
BIOGRAPHY OF STEVEN KUHR
Steven Kuhr serves as executive deputy commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and Director of the New York State Office of Emergency Management (NY State OEM). As director, he oversees and directs New York State's emergency management programs and policies. He has extensive knowledge and experience in emergency response and recovery, emergency preparedness, emergency planning and disaster training and exercises.
Prior to joining NY State OEM, Steven served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Strategic Emergency Group LLC, an emergency management and homeland security consulting firm where he oversaw projects for federal, state and local agencies, including the New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, NY State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as various private sector clients.
Prior to joining the private sector, Mr. Kuhr served with the City of New York for 20 years. He was Deputy Director for Operations and Planning for the Office of Emergency Management, where he managed programs for catastrophic disasters, terrorism, severe weather and critical infrastructure failures. He also served as Chief and Division Captain of EMS Special Operations with the New York City Fire Department.
Mr. Kuhr has written and lectured on emergency management and homeland security around the world. He has taught at FEMA's Emergency Management Institute and the U.S. Department of Defense as an adjunct faculty member.
He holds a B.S. degree in Emergency Management Administration from State University of New York and an Advanced Certificate in Homeland Security Management (HSM) from Long Island University where he is currently completing an M.S. degree in HSM. He graduated as a paramedic from the Albert Einstein School of Medicine.
OEM Sections & Programs
Citizen Corps
The New York State Citizen Corps program encourages NYS citizens to actively participate in their community in areas such as crime prevention, emergency response, and emergency preparedness and mitigation for not only acts of terror, but for all hazards - including those disasters caused naturally, by humans, or by technology.
Chemical Preparedness
OEM continues to seek and receive federal training funds to promote chemical emergency preparedness. The State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) complies with the federal Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) Title III by directing and supervising Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) to mitigate emergencies involving acutely toxic substances and other hazardous materials.
Disaster Recovery Assistance
OEM receives and disburses millions of dollars annually in federal and State disaster public assistance funds to local governments, State agencies and other eligible applicants. Since 1995, more than $2 billion in reimbursements have been made to affected entities.
Emergency Alert System
OEM is a co-chair of the State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC) which oversees the planning for the State's Emergency Alert System (EAS).
Emergency Communications
OEM operates a 24-hour alert and warning point in its New York State Watch Center to provide support to local, State and federal governments in reporting and responding to incidents.
Emergency Management Performance Grant
OEM continues to seek, manage and distribute millions of dollars to county and city governments in federal funds annually from FEMA within the Department of Homeland Security.
Public Information
OEM disseminates public health and safety protection information to the general public affected by emergencies and declared disasters. Educational materials are distributed to raise the public's level of awareness and preparedness regarding natural and technological threats. OEM also provides regional training for public information professionals working for State and local government agencies.
Emergency Equipment Stockpile
OEM maintains the State's Emergency Equipment Stockpile. Equipment is made available on a temporary loan basis to local and State governments primarily for drought relief, flooding, and emergency power and light generation. Available for loan are power generators; pumps, piping and water filters; potable water tankers; portable light towers; chainsaws; chlorinators; and sandbag-filling machines.
Emergency Operations
OEM coordinates all State response and initial recovery activities to support county and local government operations during an emergency. OEM also coordinates federal resources to support the State's activities. The State response is guided by Article 2-B of the State Executive Law, the State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, and Executive Order No. 26 which establishes the National Interagency Incident Management System - Incident Command System as the State standard command and control system.
Homeland Security
OEM works with State agencies to coordinate response protocols and policies. The Director of OEM is a member of the Governor's security team that provides technical advice and guidance on all Homeland Security issues for New York State. OEM works with all levels of government, voluntary organizations and the private sector to assure that specific, identified areas of vulnerability are addressed and mitigated. OEM provides technical assistance to local governments in developing and enhancing Homeland Security plans. It also develops, facilitates and participates in multi-agency, multi-discipline exercises directly related to terrorism response.
Human Services
OEM coordinates the provision of goods and services to victims of emergencies and disasters through the partnership of State, federal and local agencies, voluntary organizations and the private sector. OEM works with State and local governments in developing plans to incorporate human services into readiness, response and recovery activities.
Mitigation
OEM initiates and promotes mitigation planning and project implementation to protect lives and reduce the impact of disasters on developed land including roads, bridges, and buildings in New York State. OEM provides project management and technical assistance for planning, project identification, application development, environmental review, and benefit cost analysis. Major mitigation programs include Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Flood Mitigation Assistance Program, and Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program.
Planning
OEM provides planning assistance to counties, municipalities and State agencies in assessing hazards and developing emergency response and business continuity plans. As described in the OEM publication, Emergency Planning Guide for Community Officials , OEM will guide a community or agency through a 10-step planning process, including a Hazard Analysis Workshop, Risk Reduction Report, and Capability Assessment. OEM also offers a variety of training courses on planning and, on its website, various "Planning Tools" through which a self-starting community or organization can undertake the planning process by itself. OEM is responsible for the development and maintenance of State-level plans, including the State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and its various hazard-specific and functional annexes.
Radiological Preparedness
OEM assists the seven counties surrounding New York State's three commercially licensed nuclear power sites with federally-mandated emergency planning, training and emergency response and recovery activities. OEM is also responsible for the State's planning efforts, coordinating the State's response to an event, and interfacing with the appropriate federal agencies.
Telecommunications
OEM has state-of-the-art communications technology to assist county and local governments and State agencies in times of emergency. This includes Command 1, a multiple use vehicle which serves as a multi-mode communication link at the scene of a disaster or planned event. The vehicle may also serve as an executive briefing suite with video conferencing capability, provide a video link from the scene of the event to a remote location, and offer redundant communications from the incident scene.
Training & Exercises
OEM provides access to emergency management training and exercises through customized curricula and coordination of external training programs to meet the needs of the emergency management professionals in the State of New York. Training programs include Incident Command System (ICS), Emergency Coordination Center Operations, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Train-the-Trainer, and the Professional Development Series, as well as other specialized training and exercise programs.
Regional Map
Region I
Phone: (631) 952-6322
Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk
Region II
Phone: (845) 454-0430
Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester
Region III
Phone: (518) 793-6646
Albany, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, Washington
Region IV
Phone: (315) 438-8907
Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Schuyler, Seneca, St. Lawrence, Tioga, Tompkins
Region V
Phone: (315) 331-4880
Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates
