Planning
Office of Emergency Management
Planning
ABOUT THE PLANNING SECTION
The Planning Section provides technical planning assistance to State and local agencies and organizations in the development and maintenance of a wide variety of disaster preparedness and emergency response plans.
The Planning Section annually receives, reviews, and comments on over 760 Class B and Class C Dam Emergency Action Plans from across the state.
The Planning Section successfully led the State's Emergency Management Accreditation Program accreditation efforts in 2007, 2014, 2019, and in 2024 by demonstrating compliance with the 73 EMAP standards.
The Planning Section provides annual reports to the EMAP Commission and is anticipating the next full accreditation process to begin in 2028.
The Planning Section receives annual Tier II chemical inventory reporting on behalf of the State and provides guidance to industry on chemical reporting compliance.
The Planning Staff manage the request, receipt, distribution, and tracking of over 125,000 U.S. Department of Transportation Emergency Response Guidebooks (ERGs). The ERG is published every four years.
The Planning Section serves as the lead State entity in providing COOP guidance and technical planning assistance to State and local agencies and organizations.
The Planning Staff maintains State-level, multi-agency plans and annexes, many of which are supported by operational guides, checklists, and playbooks.
Planning Responsibilities
Steady State
During Steady State Operations, the Planning Section is responsible for:
- Developing, updating, maintaining, and posting the State’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) and Annexes;
- Providing technical assistance and review of all local and State-level plans;
- Providing receipt of submission of LEPC membership and chemical inventory notification;
- Providing oversight to the SERC working group and local emergency planning committee for compliance with SARA Title III; and,
- Maintaining the State’s emergency management accreditation under the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP).
Emergency Response Activation
During Emergency Response Activations, the Planning Section transitions into State Emergency Operations Center management and support.
NYS Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan
Volume 1: The State Multi-Hazard Mitigation
This portion of the CEMP addresses the State's overall hazard mitigation planning process, risk assessment, strategy development, and plan implementation.
Volume 2: Response and Short-Term Recovery
The purpose of this document is to identify the State's overarching policies, authorities, and response organizational structure that will be implemented in any emergency or disaster situation that warrants a collective, multi-agency State response.
Volume 3: Long-Term Recovery
This volume includes the provisions for implementing long-term recovery activities and functions, including mitigation, as provided for under the Federal Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and a variety of Federal-State programs.
County Emergency Preparedness Assessment
The County Emergency Preparedness Assessment (CEPA) is an initiative to better understand local emergency preparedness in a more systematic way in New York State. DHSES worked with the local first responder community to develop CEPA and its methodology. DHSES continues to streamline the approach based on stakeholder feedback. The current iteration of CEPA is flexible, intuitive, and user friendly, and builds upon each County’s previous CEPA sessions.
State Guidance and Resources
Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) is a national program...
A New York State DHSES level, voluntary program for emergency management offices...
Considerations and best practices for emergency planners and elected officials
Supporting NYS's continuity preparedness in the private and public sectors.
Contact Us
Find contact information for the State OEM Headquarters and Regional Offices.