Office of Emergency Management

Telephone: 201-440-2570
Facsimile: 201-440-1360

FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY
CALL THE RIDGEFIELD PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT 641-6400

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR
DOUGLAS HANSEN

DEPUTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS
RICHARD FLYNN
RICHARD LATOUR
FRANCINE OROVITZ: ADMINISTRATOR

FAMILY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS* TERRORISM*  EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL*

 EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER* OEM Booklet* EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM* LINKS

SPECIAL NEEDS LIST

MISSION STATEMENT

TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHICH COORDINATES PEOPLE AND RESOURCES TO PROTECT THE LIVES, PROPERTY AND ENVIRONMENT OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEFIELD PARK USING AN ALL-HAZARD APPROACH THROUGH MITIGATION, PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE AND RECOVERY FROM DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is responsible, by Federal and State Law, for the coordination of all the Emergency Services in the Village of Ridgefield Park. This includes Police, Fire, Ambulance, Rescue, Public Works, Health Department and all additional agencies contributing to any large scale emergency incident or disaster.

Emergency incidents can strike anytime, anywhere and in many forms, such as a hurricane, snow storm, earthquake, flood, fire, hazardous material incident; an act of nature or an act of terrorism.

TEAMWORK

Besides working closely with the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Rescue Chief and Ambulance Captain, the RPOEM receives support from the Bergen County Office of Emergency Management and the New Jersey State Office of Emergency Management.

Membership is also held in the New Jersey State Emergency Management Association where experience and knowledge are shared by all Emergency Management personnel.

INFORMATION

The Village Office of Emergency Management works out of the Fire Marshal’s Office at 50 Main Street. The office is open from 8:30 AM until 1:30 PM on all regular work days.

During non-business hours, Coordinator Hansen and Deputies Flynn and LaTour are available for emergencies only through the Village Police Department.

Every home and family should have an Emergency Preparedness Plan for every type of emergency or disaster.

The Village Office of Emergency Management has designed a Emergency Preparedness Booklet, which was delivered to each home this year. If you did not get yours, you may pick one up at the Municipal Building during regular business hours. The OEM is located in room 209, along with the Building  Department and the Bureau of Fire Prevention.

CREATE A FAMILY PLAN FOR YOUR FAMILY.
Include two places for family members to meet if separated; two ways to evacuate your home, if required; teach children how and when to dial 911; have phone numbers available for out of area friends who can assist.
STORE AT LEAST THREE DAYS OF EMERGENCY SUPPLIESsuch as water, food, communications equipment, clothing and bedding, sanitary needs. Know where valuable papers are stored, such as social security cards, wills, bank books, insurance policies.
PICK UP YOUR COPYof our Planning Booklet which details all kinds of emergencies or download it here.

All Municipalities in the country must have an Emergency Operations Plan, which is the responsibility of the local Emergency Management Coordinator. This plan details all types of emergencies and the responsibilities of all local Emergency Services during declared state of emergencies. This plan must be undated every four (4) years and approved by the State of New Jersey. The Village Emergency Operations Plan was completely revised in 2001 and was approved by the State and placed in service in August of 2001. After the disastrous events of September 11, 2001, the State requested all local OEM’s to prepare and submit for approval, a Terrorism Plan for their community. The Village now has a "Terrorism Annex" included in the Emergency Operations Plan, which now consists of 704 pages.

The annex details the responsibilities of all Emergency Services during a terrorism incident, sets up and Emergency Management Command Post, and details what outside services should be called.

A terrorism incident is a Law Enforcement function and therefore, the Village Police Department is the lead agency in any response to such an incident. OEM will coordinate all involved agencies.

The Village Emergency Operations Center is the Village Wide Command Post for emergency operations during any major incident, involving all Emergency Services.

There are three (3) different Operation Centers, which are manned, depending on the type of incident being managed.

1. For a large scale incident, which effects the entire Village, where all Village Agencies and County and State Agencies are assisting. The Emergency Operations Center will be activated in the Fire Marshal's Office, located at 50 Main Street.

(A) The following personnel will report to the Center. The Mayor, Emergency Management Coordinator, Police Chief, Fire Chief, EMS Captain, Rescue Chief, Public Works representative and any out of town personnel required by the Coordinator.

2. For a incident such as September 11, 2001, where the Village Emergency Services were requested to assist in other locations, out of the Village, and protective services were required locally. The Emergency Operations Center will be activated and maintained by committed personnel.

3. For a large scale incident, which is confined to one location or one section of the Village. The Emergency Operations Center will be operated at the scene, using the Emergency Management Coordinators vehicle, which is equipped to communicate to all Village County and State Emergency Services.

(A) The same personnel as listed in #1 shall report to the Mobile OEM Command Center.

LINKS