Emergency Management is a vital function involving all departmental levels of local government. Each department takes part in efforts to prepare for, respond to, mitigate, and recover from all types of dangerous or hazardous situations. During times when no emergencies exist, some of the duties handled by the Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC) include the identification and analysis of the effects of hazards which might pose a threat to the Town of Newton and to attend training courses to keep skills and knowledge current.
Newton Office of Emergency Management
The official website for the Newton Office of Emergency Management in Newton, New Jersey.
Meet Newton’s Emergency Management Staff
Thomas S. Russo, Jr.
Position: Emergency Planning Committee Chair
Serving since 2008 trusso@newtontownhall.com
Ken Teets
Position: Emergency Management Coordinator
Serving since 2003 kteets@newtonoem.org
Dan Finkle
Position: Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator
Serving since 2008 dfinkle@newtonoem.org
Jason Miller
Position: Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator
Serving since 2017 jmiller@newtonoem.org
What is Emergency Management?
Able Oil Explosion 2003
Emergency management was institutionalized in 1979 with the creation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Five Federal agencies that dealt with many types of emergencies consolidated to form FEMA. Since that time, many State and local organizations have changed the names of their organizations to include the words: emergency management.
The name change indicates a change in orientation from specialized preparedness for single or narrowly defined categories of hazards toward an all-hazards approach that includes potential threats to life and property through environmental and technological hazards, and domestic and foreign attacks. This change reflects not a reduction in security, but an increased emphasis on making the nation’s emergency management capability responsive to any major emergency.
The Four Phases of Emergency Management
Since World War II emergency management has focused primarily on preparedness. Often this involved preparing for enemy attack. Community preparedness for all disasters requires identifying resources and expertise in advance, and planning how these can be used in a disaster. However, preparedness is only one phase of emergency management. Current thinking defines four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
Click the toggles below to learn more about each phase 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.
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A recent study by the Multihazard Mitigation Council (MMC) shows that each dollar spent on mitigation saves an average of $4.00.
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.
Good morning. Another humid day is expected today with a renewed risk of showers/thunderstorms later on. The severe weather threat is low today, but there remains a risk for flash flooding, and a new Flash Flood Watch is in effect for portions of the area. #NJwx #PAwx #DEwx #MDwx
Two confirmed cases of Powassan Virus in Sussex County are being investigated. Follow this link to learn about preventative measures you can take to protect yourself and loved ones against ticks and tick-borne illnesses.
via Sussex County Government - Division of Health
*Powassan Virus Awareness*
(Hardyston, NJ) The Sussex County Division of Health (SCDOH) is currently investigating two confirmed cases of the Powassan virus in the county. While rare, the Powassan virus is spread by the bite of an infected black legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) or deer tick. Many infected with the Powassan virus do not develop any symptoms but some may experience fever, headache, swelling of the brain (encephalitis), swelling of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, trouble speaking and memory loss. Certain members of our community are at greater risk for developing complications from the Powassan virus if other medical conditions exist. It is important to seek medical attention if symptoms develop. The virus cannot be spread from person to person.
As with other tick-borne illnesses, there is no vaccine for the Powassan virus. Thus, the Division strongly urges our residents to take preventative measures for themselves and loved ones against ticks.
Powassan Virus Awareness - Sussex County News
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