OEM develops contingency plans that guide New York City's response to natural and man-made emergencies, from extreme weather to labor disputes. Each plan focuses on three components of a disaster: preparedness, initial response, and recovery. The purpose of these plans is to keep New York City safe and, following a disaster, to return residents to their daily routines as quickly as possible.

When a plan is activated, OEM coordinates the skills of City, state, federal, and nongovernmental agencies, to ensure the plan is effectively carried out. Large-scale citywide emergencies, like a transit strike or a coastal storm, can require the collaboration of dozens of agencies and thousands of emergency responders. Smaller incidents, such as localized power outages or water main breaks, may only require a handful of agencies to complete restoration.

OEM reviews, tests, and revises these plans as intelligence and resources change. The agency enlists subject matter experts from all City agencies, including the Police and Fire Departments, and other non-city groups to advise on aspects of each plan.

The following links highlight the City's guidelines to handle a few possible emergencies:

The NYC Office of Emergency Management (OEM) coordinates the NY-NJ-CT-PA Regional Catastrophic Planning Team (RCPT). The team is part of the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security funded initiative, which enhances regional catastrophic preparedness and continuity of operations in high risk urban areas and their surrounding regions.

The goal of this program is to allow jurisdictions to determine how to improve their security and resilience by fixing shortcomings in existing plans, building regional planning processes and planning communities, and linking operational needs to resources.

OEM is in the process of establishing a Continuity of Operations (COOP) program customized specifically for City agencies. This initiative will ensure that City agencies can provide vital services to the public during emergencies, while maintaining internal critical functions.