Kiryas Joel, And The Monroe, NY Region Lacks Adequate Emergency Plans

New York - Six months ago, a disaster in the Catskills or Hudson Valley would have been met with ineptitude, at least on paper: Three-quarters of the region's communities lacked adequate plans when dealing with crisis.

But half a year later, local preparedness is shedding its life support.

From Bloomingburg to Blooming Grove, the region's emergency planners are making extraordinary strides in preparing for the worst. Towns are hiring consultants. Villages are producing hazards databases. All are contemplating the unthinkable. "It's certainly taking root," said Art Snyder, Ulster County's head emergency planner.

Half of the communities deemed "unprepared" in a September review, have since formed disaster committees, updated their plans, or both. Of the 41 municipalities deemed lacking last year, 20 have improved their standing.

But progress in planning hasn't been universal. Of the 90 communities in the Hudson Valley and Catskills, 26 remain ill-prepared.

For example Kiryas Joel, Monroe, NY the fastest-growing village in the state, is without a disaster document, and the Town of Monroe as well, one of the region's largest towns, defers to the county for planning. "The county has a wonderful handle on it," Town Supervisor said recently. "Their belief is as long as we're all making a concentrated effort, that will probably be OK."

The most profound influence on the region's about-face may be new rules linking federal funding to preparedness, emergency experts say.

Beginning Oct. 1, first responders nationwide must be compliant with the National Incident Management System, a program created by President Bush to streamline incident management among all levels of government. Communities that choose not to comply will be ineligible for most federal preparedness grants.