Emergency Preparedness Committee
Emergency Operations Plan
Chapter 17 of the Town of Milton Municipal Code details the purpose of the Town of Milton Emergency Operations Plan. This chapter also empowers the Mayor with the ability to make a Proclamation of a civil emergency, to impose a curfew and to order other restrictions on commercial and social activity.
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
The Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001 exposed a weakness in the ability of first responders from different agencies to coordinate their efforts. Communication was difficult because each agency used different terms to describe similar conditions and the role of similar responders. The protocol for command and control differed between agencies, too.
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and, in February 2003, President Bush issued a directive (HSPD-5) that established the National Incident Management System as the common framework for training and response to emergencies at all levels of government. In September 2004, DHS Secretary Ridge sent a letter to all state governors. It set a deadline for the submission of a plan to implement NIMS in all jurisdictions of the state (12/31/04) and specified that:
“HSPD-5 established ambitious deadlines for NIMS adoption and implementation, including the requirement that, beginning in Fiscal Year 2005, Federal departments and agencies shall make adoption of the NIMS a requirement, to the extent permitted by law, for providing Federal preparedness assistance through grants, contracts, or other activities.”
On July 12, 2005, the Delaware State Legislature amended Title 20 of the Delaware Code by adding Chapter 32 “Intrastate Mutual Aid Compact”. Section 3205 details the responsibilities of participating political subdivisions with responsibility over emergency management.
One of the requirements detailed in Section 3205 of Title 20 is to “adopt and put into practice the standardized incident management system approved by the Director of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA)”. In November of 2011, the Town of Milton adopted the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as its standard for Emergency Management (Resolution adopting NIMS). Each employee of the Town of Milton has specific responsibilities and training requirements.
Sussex County Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
The Sussex County Emergency Operations Center coordinates first responders in the event of a local emergency. In the event of an emergency, call 911. Your call will be received at the EOC and the appropriate responders will be dispatched.
Your best place for updates regarding emergencies, such as hurricanes, nor’easters and floods is the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center. There is also a vast amount of information regarding preparation for these events (Hurricane Preparedness).
Emergency Preparedness Committee
The Mayor may appoint and Emergency Preparedness Committee – with the advice and consent of a majority of the members of Town Council.
Current Committee members are as follows:
- Chair- to be appointed at a later date
- Jimmy Kersey, Water Superintendent
- Daniel Donaway, Maintenance and Recreation Superintendent
- Derrick Harvey, Chief of Police
- Kristy Rogers, Town Manager
- Designee of Milton Fire Department
- Designee of Cape Henlopen School District
- Jim Smith, Delmarva Power
On June 3, 2013 a Mutual Aid Agreement between utilities, in the event of an emergency, was introduced to Council for consideration (Delaware WARN Agreement).