Civil Defense and Disaster Relief

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) executes the County plan for civil defense and disaster relief before, during and after any type of natural or man-made disaster or a wartime situation. In accordance with State Executive Law 213, the office develops and maintains a comprehensive emergency management plan to include preparedness, response and recovery. It plans and coordinates with government and non-government agencies for rapid response in an emergency, and assists towns and villages in the preparation of their emergency response plans. Staff develops, maintains, and practices an emergency response plan in case of an accident at the Ginna nuclear plant.

Emergency Services receives funds from New York State to support radiological monitoring, communications, shelter/evacuation, and associated emergency services operations. Funds obtained through the New York State Radiological Emergency Preparedness Group from utilities which generate nuclear power are used to enhance County resources. State law (Chapter 708 of the Laws of New York State, 1981) requires the nuclear utilities to finance system enhancements.

What We Do

Mission

As the County Executive’s Emergency Manager, the Office of Emergency Management maintains and administers an integrated Emergency Management program designed to assure a safe environment through prevention/mitigation, readiness, response, and recovery.

Mitigation Readiness

A. Plans and Exercises for emergency response

• Comprehensive Plan
• Hazard Specific Plans: HAZMAT, Railroad, Marine, Air Crash, Ginna, Terrorism Command and Control
• Incident Management System
• Assist planning: Air Dip, hospitals, schools, nursing homes, motels/hotels, public assembly (theaters,auditoriums, stadiums), industry

B. Provide public information and education

• “Flood Protection Library” at Rundell Memorial Library
• Public awareness campaigns
• Literature, video and audio tapes—municipalities, individuals, organizations
• Pre-scripted public service announcements
• Official’s Handbook and training

C. Response

Procure and provide personnel and equipment resources beyond local level secure community-wide resources of government and private agencies for:

• Communications, evacuation, sheltering, health concerns, security, transportation, recovery and re-entry procedures access state and federal resources through SEMO
• In-the-field response to a command post

D. Emergency managers/coordinators

• 24-hour availability
• EOC and EOC Services
• Notification protocols at 9-1-1
• Incident critique

E. Recovery

• Re-entry and recovery information
• Financial assessment processing
• Mitigation activities

Emergency Management Plans

• Aircraft Emergency Disaster Plan
• Animal Emergency Plan
• Incident Management System: Standard Operating Guidelines
• Marine Emergency Plan
• Railroad Emergency Plan
• Responding to Pandemic Influenza
• Responding to the Threat of Foot & Mouth Disease

Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

Monroe County’s Emergency Operations Center is a specially designed facility where public organizations and private-sector agencies meet to decide and coordinate emergency response to community-wide disasters. The Emergency Operations Center is equipped with communication devices, state-of-the-art electronics, and other tools which facilitate the collaborative effort necessary for an effective and efficient response.

View the Agencies at EOC document (22k PDF).

HAZMAT Response Plan

The Monroe County Hazardous Materials Response Plan has been prepared to meet statutory planning requirements of the federal Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, SARA, Title III, and to develop a higher degree of community preparedness for incidents involving hazardous materials.

This plan provides basic guidelines and establishes responsibilities for response to a hazardous materials incident in Monroe County. This plan will provide appropriate guidelines for response to the release of hazardous materials beyond the boundary of a facility using, storing or producing hazardous materials, and the release of hazardous materials that has the potential to injure or harm the population or the environment. All incidents must be reported, controlled and thoroughly investigated.

Facilities and political subdivisions within the jurisdiction of this plan, should establish and maintain operational plans and procedures that are compatible and consistent with this plan.

View the Monroe County Hazardous Materials Response Plan

Homeland Security Funding

Homeland Security Funding is received and managed in the Office of Emergency Management. 

Radiological Preparedness

The Monroe County Office of Emergency Management has made the following document available in order to provide detailed information to County residents that reside within the ten-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) surrounding the Ginna Nuclear Power Plant.

If you live in one of the nine Emergency Response Planning Areas (ERPA), then this document will help you to make critical decisions and provide important information in the event of a nuclear emergency. This information should be used to help you and your family to prepare a nuclear emergency response plan for your home. You can also find this information in the back of the Constellation Energy Emergency Planning Information Calendar for Monroe County.

Download the Ginna Emergency Plan

Information provided includes:

• Emergency Alert System (EAS) notification. A listing of available radio stations that provide emergency information.
• Emergency Response Planning Area (ERPA) and Reception/Congregate Care Center (R/CCC) information. Find out where to go and what to bring during a nuclear emergency in your area.
• Other evacuation and sheltering information.
• Information about radiation and basic radiation protection measures.
• Information about Potassium Iodide (KI) in a nuclear emergency.
• Contact numbers and where to receive more information.

Project Prepare!

Project Prepare! was launched by the Monroe County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) on November 7, 2003 as a public alerting and emergency preparedness initiative. This website provides information and links to disaster education, personal readiness, and current events related to community-wide emergencies.

Visit the Project Prepare! web page

KI (Potassium Iodide)

The County of Monroe, in partnership with Wegmans Food Markets, distributes Potassium Iodide (KI) to residents of Monroe County who live within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) of the Ginna nuclear power plant located just east of Monroe County in Wayne County.

Residents living within the Ginna 10-mile EPZ can obtain their free supply of KI at the following Wegman's locations: 

• Holt Road Wegman's, 900 Holt Road
• Eastway Wegman's, 1955 Empire Boulevard
• Penfield Wegman's, 2157 Penfield Road

Businesses in the affected area can obtain KI by contacting the Town of Webster.

Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, federal, state and local governments have all acted to strengthen security and further protect the public. In December 2001 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a new recommendation for the distribution of KI to residents adjacent to nuclear power plants. The KI is to be taken only under emergency conditions and is intended as an additional safety precaution. It does not replace the existing emergency plan to evacuate or shelter-in-place during a radiological emergency.

Potassium Iodide protects the thyroid gland from radioactive iodines. Such iodines could be released into the atmosphere only in the most serious type of a nuclear accident. It is not a substitute for more familiar and thorough emergency preparedness steps, such as sheltering-in-place or evacuation. Potassium Iodide is safe. It has virtually no side effects. Residents should however consult their physicians on KI and interaction with prescriptions or allergies.

The use of KI by residents is only necessary in emergencies where the public is likely to be exposed to radioiodine. The Monroe County Office of Emergency Preparedness monitors all radiation emergencies involving the Ginna Nuclear Power Plant and will issue advisories informing the public whether KI should be taken.

Monroe County is not alone in undertaking this public safety initiative. Other communities surrounding the six nuclear power facilities throughout New York State are implementing similar programs to distribute KI to residents living near nuclear reactors.

KI (Potassium Iodide) Information

• Medical questions about KI should be addressed to your Physician.
• If you have questions about your child’s school plans: In the Webster School District, call Dr. Mark Jacobs at 585 670-5079 for other schools, call the Superintendent’s Office.
• Evacuation Plans: Wayne County and Monroe County evacuation plans have been prepared by local, state and federal officials. If you have questions about evacuation plans for the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone, residents should refer to their copy of RG&E’s calendar, and employees should contact their employer.
• KI Distribution: The current government-funded, KI program is designed for residents and schools located within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone of Ginna Station. Employers within this 10-mile zone may purchase KI to have it available in the workplace. Employees who work within this 10-mile zone may want to purchase KI to have it available at their workplace.
• Anyone may purchase KI, over-the-counter, at a retail pharmacy.
• Additional information is available from the NYS Department of Health infoline: 1-800-458-1158, ext. 2-7550