Council Oversight Hearings Result in 10 New Bills<\/p>\n
City Hall – Today, Speaker Christine C. Quinn was joined by Council Members to announce 10 new Council bills that will be introduced as a result of the Council\u2019s post-Hurricane Sandy oversight hearings. During the 11 hearings, the Council heard testimony from over 100 witnesses, including City agencies, non-profit providers, advocates, and members of the public who were affected by the storm. As a result of its oversight efforts, the Council identified areas where the City excelled so that we can build on our successes, as well areas that could use improvement, so that we can better handle future emergencies. These 10 bills aim to improve the City\u2019s emergency preparedness and response by requiring the Mayor\u2019s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to develop plans in several major areas, including: food and water access, traffic and fuel management, emergency shelter preparations, vulnerable population outreach and small business recovery. Speaker Quinn was joined by Council Members James Oddo, Maria del Carmen Arroyo, Ydanis Rodriguez, Donovan Richards, Diana Reyna, Deborah Rose, Sara Gonzalez, Leroy Comrie, Vincent Gentile and Margaret Chin. A full list of the Council Oversight hearings is listed at the bottom of the release.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy will better prepare New York City for the next major emergency,\u201d said Speaker Quinn. \u201cThis legislative package comes as a result of Council oversight hearings that examined what the City did well, so we can replicate it in the future and what still needs to be improved. From the Rockaways to Red Hook, from Midland Beach to the South Street Seaport – these bills address key issues that are vital to protecting New Yorkers in all five boroughs and ensuring the City is as prepared as possible for the next Hurricane Sandy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Specifically, the series of legislation will:<\/p>\n
Protect NYC\u2019s Most Vulnerable:<\/p>\n
Tracking Special Medical Needs Shelters: Council will introduce legislation to require OEM to ensure that evacuations of healthcare facilities during and after an emergency are conducted in an orderly and timely manner and another bill to require OEM to develop a plan for tracking the location and medical needs of all individuals admitted to special medical needs shelters. The legislation also requires OEM\u2019s plan develop a process whereby loved ones admitted to shelters can be easily located.<\/p>\n
Food & Water Access: To address reports of uncoordinated and inefficient efforts to distribute food and water in the aftermath of the storm, this legislation will require the Administration to develop and implement a plan that clearly defines the roles of the public, private and non-profit sectors in food and water distribution efforts, and to coordinate and make the public aware of how food and water can be accessed.<\/p>\n
Sheltering: To address issues surrounding the emergency shelter provided by the City to thousands of people after Sandy, this bill will require OEM to anticipate the operation of emergency shelters for short, medium or long-term stays, and to ensure that the facilities used for emergency shelters are adequate and stocked with proper food and supplies.<\/p>\n
Vulnerable Population Outreach and Recovery Bill: This legislation will require OEM to enhance its plan to assist vulnerable populations and create a task force to determine a \u201cdoor-to-door\u201d strategy to locate vulnerable and homebound people in need of assistance.<\/p>\n
Prepare City\u2019s Infrastructure & Transportation Services<\/p>\n
Traffic Management: To address transportation problems during and after Sandy, including flooded streets and subways, traffic gridlock, and a lack of working street lights and traffic signals, the Council will introduce legislation to require the City to install back-up power capability to ensure that roadways are usable and to develop alternative transportation options including bus and ferry service in the event of widespread damage to the subway system and\/or major roadways.<\/p>\n
Fuel Management: This bill will require that the City develops and implements a plan to ensure fuel access to critical systems in the event of an emergency that impact the fuel supply to New York City. The legislation will mandate that procedures, criteria and communication channels are in place in the event of a future fuel shortage and ensure that those involved in rescue and recovery efforts have priority in obtaining fuel.<\/p>\n
Improve Community and Small Business Recovery<\/p>\n
Community Recovery Plan: To address reports that there was a lack of agency presence in impact communities in the days following the storm, this bill will require OEM to deploy staff in the field immediately after an emergency event to coordinate efforts in impact areas and include borough recovery directors to work in impacted areas and act as a single point of contact for residents and community groups to better identify and meet critical needs. <\/p>\n
Small Business Recovery Bill: Bill will require OEM, in consultation with the City\u2019s Department of Small Business Services (SBS), to create a recovery plan for small businesses that includes an evaluation of the potential impact of disasters on small businesses, a mechanism to provide impacted businesses with information to help them recover, and coordination with non-profit organizations to help expedite recovery. Bill will also require a mechanism to identify necessary resources for small businesses impacted by a disaster.<\/p>\n
OEM Reporting Bill: Legislation will require OEM to regularly review their Coastal Storm plan, make appropriate changes, and provide copies of them to the Council.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpeaker Quinn, my colleagues at Council, and I continue to evaluate how the City was able to react to Hurricane Sandy and address our communities\u2019 most pressing needs,\u201d said Council Member Diana Reyna, Chair of the Committee on Small Business. \u201cUnfortunately, many of New York\u2019s business owners felt that the City did not create clear lines of communication and did not identify the most immediate needs of impacted businesses quickly enough. The bill I am sponsoring calls upon the City to develop an emergency plan to address those concerns in the small business community.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Council\u2019s oversight hearings revealed many strengths and weaknesses on the City\u2019s response to the storm on a wide-range of issues,\u201d said Council Member Maria del Carmen Arroyo. \u201cBy identifying the main issues and problems that need to be addressed, I am proud to stand with my colleagues to announce new legislation to better prepare our city in the event of another major storm or emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis important piece of legislation will require the NYC Office of Emergency Management to regularly review their emergency response plans, make changes, and notify the City Council,\u201d said Council Member Vincent Gentile. \u201cIt is important that we learn from our response to Hurricane Sandy in order to prepare for the next storm. Together, we can ensure that the City is even better prepared to meet Mother Nature\u2019s next challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were a lot of lessons learned during Superstorm Sandy about ways that we as a City can better prepare for future natural disasters and protect New Yorkers,\u201d said Council Member Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., Chair of the Council\u2019s Finance Committee. \u201cThe bills proposed today are a result of thoughtful consideration and evaluation of what we did right and what we can do better in the case of future disasters. I want to thank Speaker Quinn and my colleagues for their efforts and contributions toward this legislation and I look forward to working toward quick passage of these needed measures.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs our city witnessed late last year, we have much to improve upon to make ourselves less vulnerable to natural disasters,\u201d said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. \u201cThis package of bills is a major step forward in alleviating these concerns. Ensuring the city reviews its Costal Storm Plans regularly and provides updates to council members across the city will ensure we are better prepared for future storms.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSuper Storm Sandy taught us an invaluable lesson in what we need to do in order to better serve our residents in times of natural disasters,\u201d said Council Member Leroy Comrie. \u201cWhile we applaud all those who came together during this difficult time, we need to create a mitigation plan that the city can immediately implement. We need a mitigation plan the city can implement as quickly as possible. During Sandy, many communities in Southeast Queens were left without power for weeks and unable to contact the city to let them know what they needed. The legislation that I am sponsoring today will require the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to create a central hub for relief operations in every borough, which will allow residents to notify OEM of the problems occurring in their community, and to ensure the efficient delivery of the resources that they need. I want to thank the Speaker and all my colleagues for their leadership and support of these bills.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMany months after Hurricane Sandy, there is still substantial work to be done to ensure that we are fully prepared for future emergencies,\u201d said Council Member Margaret Chin. \u201cNew Yorkers came together in the aftermath to let government know what could be done better, and this package comprehensively addresses core concerns citywide. These bills will equip our communities with the resources and support they need to weather any storm.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very proud to join with the Speaker and my colleagues in announcing this essential legislative package that will ensure we learn a multitude of lessons from Sandy and are optimally positioned to deal with all phases of future storms,\u201d said Council Member Rosie Mendez. \u201cI am particular heartened to know that we will be comprehensively addressing such vital issues as: food and water access and distribution, small business recovery, outreach to vulnerable populations, fuel management and services to persons with special medical needs. I look forward to working for swift passage and timely implementation of these core initiatives.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cI applaud Speaker Quinn for bringing the Council together in the wake of Superstorm Sandy to evaluate the City\u2019s response to the natural disaster and to better prepare for future,\u201d said Council Member Annabel Palma. \u201cThis package of bills provides a solid framework for responding to emergencies and will help prevent New Yorkers from unnecessarily suffering.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe recent storm was an unprecedented event for our City and as much as we may wish otherwise, we are not clairvoyant,\u201d said Council Member Lew Fidler. \u201cNot all events can be anticipated. But when the storm passes, we can look back to prepare for the future. Recovery is not just dollars, it’s also lessons learned. On behalf of my District, which was one of those hit hardest, I want to thank the Speaker for her leadership on these bills and thank my colleagues for their hard work.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom Superstorm Sandy we learned how to recover and rebuild,\u201d said Council Member James Vacca. \u201cBut, we hope that the bills before us today will serve as a proactive tool so that the city can learn how to better prepare for future emergencies. We can\u2019t prevent another Sandy from happening, but we can improve the city\u2019s contingency plan to minimize the impacts of future storms.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is imperative that New York City do everything it possibly can to minimize the level of damage inflicted by future emergency situations,\u201d said Council Member Stephen Levin. \u201cBy introducing this post-Hurricane Sandy legislation, the City Council is taking a proactive step for the future of our city. I want to thank Speaker Quinn and my Council colleagues for their dedication to this important issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
The series of Council oversight hearings included the following:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Emergency Planning and Management During and After the Storm: Disaster Management (1st Hearing, 1\/16\/13)
\n\u2022 Emergency Planning and Management During and After the Storm: NYCHA Emergency Planning and Response (2nd Hearing, 1\/17\/13, continued on 2\/13\/2013)
\n\u2022 Emergency Planning and Management During and After the Storm: Assessing and Improving Public Utility Risk Mitigation Measures (3rd Hearing, 1\/18\/13)
\n\u2022 Emergency Planning and Management During and After the Storm: Emergency Preparedness and Response at the City\u2019s Healthcare Facilities (4th Hearing, 1\/24\/13)
\n\u2022 Emergency Planning and Management During and After the Storm: Shelter Management (5th Hearing, 2\/5\/13)
\n\u2022 Emergency Planning and Management During and After the Storm: MTA\u2019s Response and the Long-term Impact on the City\u2019s Public Transportation System (6th Hearing, 2\/12\/13)
\n\u2022 Recovery: Restoring and Growing the City\u2019s Small Businesses (7th Hearing, 2\/25\/13)
\n\u2022 Recovery: Managing the City\u2019s Housing Needs in the Wake of Hurricane Sandy (8th Hearing, 2\/26\/13)
\n\u2022 Recovery: Storm-related Impact on Schools and Students (9th Hearing, 2\/26\/13)
\n\u2022 Oversight: Recovery Efforts of the City\u2019s Libraries and Cultural Establishments (10th Hearing, 2\/28\/13)
\n\u2022 Recovery: Post-Storm Cleanup and the Effects on the City\u2019s Health and Infrastructure (11th Hearing, 2\/28\/13)<\/p>\n
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Council Oversight Hearings Result in 10 New Bills<\/p>\n
City Hall – Today, Speaker Christine C. Quinn was joined by Council Members to announce 10 new Council bills that will be introduced as a result of the Council\u2019s post-Hurricane Sandy oversight hearings. During the 11 hearings, the Council heard testimony from over 100 witnesses, including City agencies, non-profit providers, advocates, and members of the public who were affected by the storm.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n