This bill would require the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to create a website through which persons that are displaced, or out of communication, because of an emergency event can let others know where they are and how they are doing. After an emergency, people may be residing in evacuation centers, the residences of friends and family, or elsewhere. This website would provide a mechanism for letting a person make it be publicly known that they survived the emergency, and would allow them to privately share password-protected additional information, such as their current location and contact information. Only visitors to the website who knew the password would be able to view the additional information. Visitors to the website would be able to sign up for an e-mail notification whenever a person with a specified name registered for the website. The bill would also require OEM to make information on the website available in all evacuation shelters and include it in their public awareness materials.
- Filed (End of Session)
History
Int. No. 1154
By Council Members Treyger, Chin, Cohen, Koslowitz, Constantinides and Ulrich
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the creation of a displaced persons registry.
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 30 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 30-114 to read as follows:
§ 30-114 Displaced persons registry. a. The department, or such entity as the commissioner delegates, shall maintain a voluntary website registry for all displaced, potentially displaced or otherwise affected persons after an emergency event, in which there is a loss of communications utility service, an evacuation order issued or a similar large displacement of individuals, to assist such persons with communicating their current location and status. The website shall remain in service for no less than one month beyond the end of the emergency event, the rescinding of the evacuation order, or the general restoration of communications utility services, whichever is latest.
b. The website shall permit individuals to register and, at their discretion, create a password protected account and enter private information, consisting of no less than their current status, location, contact information and a short message.
c. Only a registrant’s full name and date registered shall be viewable by the general public.
d. Private registrant information shall only be made available to individuals that are able to provide the password selected by that registrant.
e. The website shall also permit individuals to request an email notification when an individual with a specified name registers.
f. Information on accessing the website shall be made available in all evacuation shelters and in public awareness materials.
§ 2. This local law shall take effect ninety days after its enactment into law.
BJR
LS # 2255
12/29/14 3:06PM