Directives Issued by the State Office of Emergency Management

DIRECTIVE NO. 100

SUBJECT: STANDARDS FOR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS

1. PURPOSE
   
   To provide standards for the position of County Emergency Management Coordinator
   
   
2. LEGAL AUTHORITY
   
   The position for County Emergency Management Coordinator is based on provisions of public laws and directives which carry the force of the law.
   
   
   1. State Law: New Jersey Statutes Annotated (NJSA) Appendix A:9-33 et/seq. (Chapter 251, P.L. 1942, as amended by Chapter 438, P.L. 1953). These laws set forth responsibilities, obligations and authorities.
      
      Appointment of County Emergency Management Coordinator
      
      In every county of this State, the Board of Chosen Freeholders shall appoint a County Emergency Management Coordinator, which appointment shall be subject to the approval of the State Emergency Management Director and thereafter shall be subject to his/her orders. The State Director shall exercise supervision and control of all such appointees, who may be removed by said State Director for cause.
      
      Duties of County Emergency Management Coordinator
      
      The County Emergency Management Coordinator shall be responsible for the development, coordination, and activation of county-wide mutual aid and emergency management plans and for the activation of emergency management facilities and services available from the resources of county government.
      
      
   2. New Jersey Office of Emergency Management Directive #61 - November 19, 1986, indicates:
      
      County Emergency
      
      The County Emergency Management Coordinator is granted authority to declare a State of Emergency in the entire county if, in his/her judgment, as a result of natural or unnatural cause, conditions may present severe hazards to life or property, even though the Municipal Emergency Management Coordinators have not declared a State of Emergency in their own municipalities. It shall be the duty of each Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator to comply with the orders of the County Emergency Management Coordinator. The County Emergency Management Coordinator shall immediately advise the State Emergency Management Director of actions taken.
      
      
3. QUALIFICATIONS
   
   
   1. The County Emergency Management Coordinator should be a full-time county employee with responsibilities in emergency management.
      
      
   2. The County Emergency Management Coordinator shall:
      
      
      1. Possess a high school diploma its equivalent.
         
      2. Be a county resident.
         
      3. Have a minimum of three (3) years' experience in the Emergency Management field.
         
      4. Possess a valid New Jersey driver's license.
         
      
      
   3. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodations cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
      
      
   4. The State of New Jersey, counties and municipalities, are equal opportunity employers. All persons shall have the opportunity to obtain employment without discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status or physical handicap, subject only to conditions and limitations applicable alike to all persons.
      
      
4. BASIC TRAINING FOR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS
   
   The County Emergency Management Coordinator shall complete all of the following courses:
   
   
   1. Within one year of appointment:
      
      
      1. Introduction to Emergency Management
         
      2. Emergency Management Workshop - Basic
         
      3. Emergency Planning
         
      4. Emergency Management, U.S.A. (correspondence course)
         
      5. Emergency Program Manager (correspondence course)
         
      
      
   2. Within two years of appointment:
      
      
      1. Leadership and Influence
         
      2. Decision Making and Problem Solving
         
      3. Effective Communications
         
      4. Creative Financing
         
      
      
   3. Continuing Education
      
      Following the completion of the first two years' courses, the County Emergency Management Coordinator must complete 24 classroom hours of Emergency Management continuing education per year. The courses to be taken by the County Emergency Management Coordinator must be approved by the State Emergency Management Director of Deputy Emergency Management Director.
      
      
5. RESPONSIBILITIES
   
   The County Emergency Management Coordinator is responsible for the provision of leadership in the field of Emergency Management at the county level of government. As such, he/she is responsible for emergency management program administration and program development encompassing the four phases of emergency management-mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. The County Emergency Management Coordinator shall be responsible for the following:
   
   
   1. Program Administration
      
      
      1. Insure that the County Office of Emergency Management is available on a 24-hour basis.
         
      2. Supervise the day-to-day operations of the County Office of Emergency Management.
         
      3. Insure that the county meets all requirements for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Emergency Management Assistance Program; including meeting goals agreed to in the annual work plan, maintaining a currently approved County Emergency Operations Plan, and providing the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management with quarterly program status reports.
         
      4. Prepare, submit, and justify the annual emergency management budget.
         
      5. Secure technical and financial assistance available through other State and Federal programs.
         
      6. At a minimum, conduct quarterly meetings with Municipal Emergency Management Coordinators.
         
      7. Maintain a continuing knowledge of all municipal, county, State and federal laws and plans concerning emergency management.
         
      8. Maintain adequate files, records and correspondence relating to emergency management activities.
         
      9. Coordinate with Municipal Coordinators within the county, for example: municipal Emergency Operating Plan (EOP) review, Hazard Identification Capability Assessment and Multi-Year Development Plan (HICA/MYDP), the scheduling of attendees for New Jersey Office of Emergency Management courses, etc.
         
      10. Coordinate with the county agencies, departments, and bureaus regarding their emergency management responsibilities.
          
      11. Implement policies, procedures and State Directives regarding emergency management.
          
      
      
   2. Program Development
      
      Recruit, organize, coordinate, and train a staff to administer the following emergency management functions and programs.
      
      
      1. Direction and Control
         
         
         1. Develop an Emergency Operating Center (EOC) as a site from which key officials can direct and control operations during an emergency.
            
         2. Develop training programs for emergency response personnel.
            
         3. Develop exercise programs to test response capabilities.
            
         4. Assist in the establishment of mutual aid or cooperative assistance agreements to provide needed services, equipment, or other resources in the event of am emergency.
            
         5. Facilitate the formulation of Municipal Emergency Management Councils.
            
         6. Develop county-wide mutual aid agreements.
            
         7. Work closely with Municipal Coordinators offering information and assistance. Observe municipal operations.
            
         8. Maintain close liaison with county and municipal government officials to assure their understanding and support of emergency management activities.
            
         9. Schedule training courses at the county level and encourage staff members and Municipal Coordinators to take advantage of courses offered at State and Federal levels.
            
         10. Attend State and Regional meetings and seminars.
             
         11. During the recovery period, work with State OEM on recovery operations.
             
             
      2. Emergency Public Information
         
         
         1. Establish an emergency public information system and develop a public education program.
            
         2. Keep the mission and activities of emergency management in the public view, utilizing the media and personal appearances before civic groups.
            
         3. Maintain and restore channels of communication to the public.
            
         4. Keep residents advised of the situation regarding movement from shelters back to homes, roads closed, feeding evacuees, providing temporary housing, welfare and unemployment assistance, location of Disaster Assistance Centers, etc.
            
            
      3. Communications
         
         
         1. Coordinate, plan, develop and maintain an adequate emergency communications systems.
            
         2. Establish a system to alert key public officials and warn the public of an impending or continuing emergency or disaster.
            
            
      4. Warning
         
         Coordinate, plan, develop and maintain an adequate all-hazard emergency warning system which also addresses the needs of special groups such as hearing and mobility-impaired, non-English speaking, and others.
         
         
      5. Law Enforcement
         
         Coordinate and plan with law enforcement officials for the purpose of maintaining law and order, saving lives and protecting property during emergencies.
         
         
      6. Fire Service
         
         Coordinate and plan with fire services for the purpose of saving lives and protecting property primarily during fire emergencies.
         
         
      7. Emergency Medical Services
         
         Coordinate and plan with emergency medical service providers to address the immediate needs of casualties during emergencies.
         
         
      8. Emergency Public Health Services
         
         Coordinate and plan with public health providers for the purpose of protecting public health during emergencies and mass care situations.
         
         
      9. Public Works
         
         
         1. Coordinate and plan with public works providers for the purpose of maintaining services during emergencies.
            
         2. Identify resource deficiencies and work with appropriate officials on measures to correct times.
            
            
      10. Shelter
          
          Coordinate, plan, and develop a shelter system.
          
          
      11. Evacuation
          
          Coordinate, plan and develop county-wide evacuation with Municipal Emergency Managers and adjacent County OEM's.
          
          
      12. Emergency Social Services
          
          
          1. Coordinate and plan with emergency social service providers.
             
          2. Establish and maintain a shelter, reception and care system.
             
             
      13. Resources Management
          
          
          1. Coordinate with industry to develop industrial emergency plans and capabilities in support of local government plans.
             
          2. Coordinate the municipal construction inventory program.
             
          3. Maintain an up-to-date general knowledge of the disaster resources' capability of each element of county government.
             
          4. Maintain supervision over county emergency management operational equipment. Acquire equipment needed for improved operations.
             
          5. Inventory manpower and material resources from government and private sector sources that would be available in an emergency.
             
          6. Identify resources deficiencies and work with appropriate officials on measures to correct them.
             
             
      14. Hazard Materials Protection
          
          
          1. Coordinate, plan and develop a hazardous materials protection program with municipalities and industries.
             
          2. In conjunction with Municipal Coordinators and industry representatives, identify potential sites and analyze the effects of hazards that threaten the jurisdiction.
             
          3. Work with Municipal Coordinators, industry representatives, and officials in developing a hazard mitigation program to eliminate or reduce potential hazards.
             
             
      15. Radiological Protection
          
          
          1. Coordinate, plan and develop radiological protection programs with municipalities and industries.
             
          2. Supervise the development and maintenance of a county and municipal radiological system.
             
             
      16. Damage Assessment
          
          
          1. Coordinate, plan and develop a county and municipal damage assessment program.
             
          2. Develop a method for consolidation of county and municipal damage assessment reports.
             
          3. Coordinate, with government officials, the assessment of damage to public and private property.
             
          4. Maintain records of damage assessment reports and documentation of damages including photographs and sketches.