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Alden OEM

Emergency Management Office

Robert Elesko - Disaster Coordinator

David Metz - Assistant Disaster Coordinator

Contact us:

Phone: (716) 937-6969 x143

3311 Wende Road

Alden, NY 14004

Office hours by appointment only

What is OEM?

The Alden Office of Emergency Management (OEM) provides emergency mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery services to the Town & Village of Alden.  OEM leads the development and maintenance of the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, which encompasses all natural and man-made disasters and provides a basis for the development of programs and procesures to save lifes and minimize disaster damage.

Alden OEM manages the Town & Villages Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during large scale disasters and events.  During a disaster the EOC coordinates all response activites within the Town and Village, including Governmental Operations, Public Works/Highway, Fire/EMS.  All of this is done through a Unified Command Network.  Following a disaster or large scale event OEM coordinates all recovery activties.    

Alden OEM actively participates in many prepardeness programs such as, hazards analysis studies, mainting a special needs registry, emergency planning for the Town & Village including all special events, training drills/exercises. OEM staff is also available to give presentations on emergency preparedness to your association, civic group, business or faith community. 

The Four Phases of Emergency Management

Mitigation 

Preventing future emergencies or minimizing their effects

  • Includes any activities that prevent an emergency, reduce the chance of an emergency happening, or reduce the damaging effects of unavoidable emergencies
  • Buying flood and fire insurance for your home is a mitigation activity
  • Mitigation activities take place before and after emergencies

Preparedness 

Preparing to handle an emergency

  • Includes plans or preparations made to save lives and to help response and rescue operations
  • Evacuation plans and stocking food and water are both examples of preparedness
  • Preparedness activities take place before an emergency occurs

Response 

Responding safely to an emergency

  • Includes actions taken to save lives and prevent further property damage in an emergency situation. Response is putting your preparedness plans into action
  • Seeking shelter from a tornado or turning off gas valves in an earthquake are both response activities
  • Response activities take place during an emergency

Recovery

Recovering from an emergency

  • Includes actions taken to return to a normal or an even safer situation following an emergency
  • Recovery includes getting financial assistance to help pay for the repairs
  • Recovery activities take place after an emergency
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