Practicing Preparedness

November 1, 2019November 1, 2019 Michael Corwin

ESD tent drill — Front row, from left to right: Caretaker Gilberto Gonzalez, Emergency Service Aide Van Blake, Maintenance Worker Anthony Ficalora, Emergency Service Aide Daniel Cordova, Maintenance Worker Joseph Kovolisky, Telecommunication Associate Fazielkhan Ghafoerkhan. Back row, from left to right: Assistant Property Maintenance Supervisor Andy Maldonado, Resident Buildings Superintendent Marco Acevedo, ESD Deputy Director Gilbert Santiago, Maintenance Worker Oscar Torres, Regional Asset Manager Brenda Allen, Executive Assistant Joann Ramirez, ESD Director Erenisse Tavarez, Maintenance Worker Frank Velez, Maintenance Worker Jonathan Torres, Maintenance Worker Wilfrid Boursiquot, Maintenance Worker George Yerks, ESD Administrator Francis Koelle, and ESD Administrator Steven Gonzalez.

Every September during National Preparedness Month, Americans are encouraged to get prepared for disasters or emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities. Since 2013, NYCHA’s Emergency Services Department (ESD) has actively promoted that effort by ensuring its staff is well trained and properly equipped to address challenges that arise from gas leaks, floods, power failures, and other unexpected events.

This September, under the guidance of Deputy Director Gil Santiago, ESD set up a Portable Command Post staffed by members of its Rapid Deployment Team, at Wald Houses in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. During emergencies, these posts support ground operations as teams restore essential services to NYCHA residents.

Observed by ESD supervisors, Manhattan Property Management staff (including Wald Houses’ property manager and Regional Asset Manager), and NYCHA Office of Emergency Management staff, the team executed tent drills to determine the scope of personnel and equipment needs, test electrical and computer equipment, and improve performance time.

NYCHA’s Mobile Command Bus, which is outfitted with similar equipment, can also serve as an emergency command post.

“We were impressed with the Rapid Deployment Team’s performance during this exercise,” noted ESD Director Erenisse Tavarez. “Speedy and expert execution is critical in responding to any given emergency, and the team set up the command post with every piece of equipment in just over an hour. We are confident that the team can respond quickly to catastrophic events and increase NYCHA’s overall capacity to safeguard property and ensure resident safety.”

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