For more than 50 years, the New York State Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and its predecessor agencies have been responsible for coordinating the activities of all State agencies to protect New York's communities, the State's economic well-being, and the environment from natural and human-caused disasters and emergencies.
State OEM routinely assists local governments, voluntary organizations, and private industry through a variety of emergency management programs including hazard identification, loss prevention, planning, training, operational response to emergencies, technical support, and disaster recovery assistance.
OEM Programs and Sections
State OEM is comprised of programs and sections that assist New York State local and county governments, State agencies, and internal and external partners and stakeholders with preparedness, response, and recovery activities to keep New Yorkers safe.
During Steady State operations, State OEM maintains the State EOC in a readiness posture, while conducting normal day-to-day operations. The New York State Watch Center conducts surveillance and monitoring of any potential or actual emergency 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
The State response organization is activated based upon the scope and magnitude of an incident, and the level of capability needed to effectively respond to the event. The State EOC has four levels of activation that are preceded by day-to-day, Steady State operations.