The Disaster Coordinator is to be notified should an emergency arise in the Town of West Seneca and assistance is required of the Department of Disaster Preparedness.
NOTE: The Disaster Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator also can be notified through the West Seneca Police Dispatch Center. Both are equipped with portable radios on the
Town of West Seneca Governmental frequency and have page capabilities.
Do you know how to create a disaster plan?
Do you have the tools to prepare for a disaster?
The Office for Disaster Preparedness has created a handout that will help you and your family plan for a disaster. This Disaster Preparedness Handout will help you create a disaster plan, put together a first aid kit and gather the tools you will need to help you through a crisis.
Click here to view and print the Disaster Preparedness Handout in PDF format.
Creek Flood Potential Outlook
The National Weather Service in Buffalo provides a Winter / Spring Flood Outlook for the Buffalo area creeks. The NWS constantly monitors the hydrological (water) conditions in our area, and has the responsibility of issuing timely warnings to protect life and property from flooding of all types. Issued every two weeks through March, the NWS monitors snow cover, creek flows and status of creek ice.
The National Weather Service maintains contact with The West Seneca Emergency Coordinator regarding conditions which affect our area.
For the Official NWS Forecast click here to view the latest flood outlook information.
Town of West Seneca Disaster Plan
Introduction
Effective Disaster Control Operations are dependent upon the coordination and cooperation of Police, Fire and various other public and private Agencies that may be called upon to perform duties in conjunction with the occurrence.
Each incident may differ by type, area, location, number of persons affected, and extent of damage; but the basic responsibilities of the involved Agencies remain the same, and the following Procedures are established.
Purpose
- To provide for the development of plans representing detailed operational procedures by each and every resource service which may contribute to the preservation of life and protection of property.
- To predetermine disaster exposure whenever possible.
- To provide the protocol for requesting disaster assistance from County, State, and Federal Governments; as well as from other Local Governments.
- To provide for an organized response to extraordinary emergency disaster situations for the protection of life, health and property.
- To prescribe procedures for effectively coordinating the resources of all Departments and other Agencies in the event of disaster or other conditions beyond the control of the respective political subdivision that requires the combined action of the Town.
- To establish reasonable measures for recovery, assistance and restoration of services after disaster emergencies.
Scope
The Plan provides for early notification of responsible Departments and Agencies, evaluation of the severity of the disaster, the initiation of protective actions to safeguard life,
health and property and the coordination of assistance furnished by Government, as well as volunteer, Agencies.
Identification and Types of Disaster
The ability to project the type, intensity and frequency of disasters likely to affect a Community is of tantamount importance. With this in mind, the Town Engineer, together with a Representative of the Fire Chiefs, Police, Railroads and Utilities, shall prepare a vulnerability
report with map defining the areas of possible hazards such as floods, train wrecks involving hazardous materials, industrial explosions or toxic air contamination. The report shall become part of this Plan and shall further be disseminated to all Fire Companies, Police and other private Agencies.
For the purpose of categorizing disasters so procedures and Town resources can be mobilized, the following is established:
Limited Area Involvement pertains to multiple casualty and/or extensive destruction incident affecting a limited geographical area. Examples of possible occurrences of this nature would be:
- Fallen aircraft
- Public conveyance accidents
- Buildings involving fire, explosion or collapse
- Natural disaster affecting a limited geographical area
General Area Involvement pertains to large scale death and destruction covering a substantial area of the Community. Examples include:
- Floods
- Chemical spills
- Civil disorder
- Toxic air or water contamination
The limited area emergencies are normally those which Fire and Police Services and hospitals effectively deal with on a day-to-day basis. They may require mutual aid or joint assistance of emergency facilities; but not necessarily mobilization of the Town Disaster Plan.
In the second category, limited area situations that are progressive, with a heavy potential of danger, the Supervisor, after appropriate review and inquiry, shall declare an emergency and activate the Town Disaster Plan.
CERT Training Program
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies
by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.
Click here for more information on the CERT Training Program.
West Nile Virus
The Town of West Seneca is in the forefront in the fight against the West Nile virus. The Town is working aggessively with Erie County and the State of New York to contain, reduce, and eliminate the West Nile virus.
The Engineering Department and the Highway Department are working hard to eliminate sources of standing water and other potential mosquito breeding grounds.
Mosquitos NEED stagnant or standing water to lay their eggs. To reduce the mosquito population around your neighborhodd, stagnant water must be eliminated.
Please click on the following form to report standing water. A copy of this form will be sent to Erie County and to the West Seneca Engineering Department for immediate action.
