Disaster Preparedness Assistant (NY HELPS)

Disaster Preparedness Assistant

The Disaster Preparedness Assistant in the New York State Watch Center (SWC) monitors, analyzes, prioritizes, and reports critical information obtained from a wide variety of sources to federal, state, and local government officials, emergency responders, agency partners and the public on a 24 / 7 basis with the operations of the New York SWC and State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). Duties may include, but not be limited to the following :

• Prepare daily operational briefings to include information gathered from federal, state and county sources, regional activities, noteworthy news, weather, transportation, utilities, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping.
• Monitor multiple sources of information for situational awareness of incidents that may adversely impact areas of New York State, require a multi-agency response, and / or require an Office of Emergency Management (OEM) response. Communicate with state, federal, and local officials, agencies, and organizations to confirm the nature, scope, and impact of incidents.
• Serve as the OEM first point of contact for all state agencies in regard to any Local / County / State / National and International Incidents, Emergencies, or Disasters.
• Receive, disseminate, and log emergency technical information from multiple voice / data landline, microwave, fiber optic cable, radio, and satellite networks.
• Expedite and disseminate emergency information according to established policies and protocols.
• Provide routine equipment and software support to field deployed staff.
• Maintain contact info, operational databases, and complex communication systems.
• Assess and evaluate information using educational and background ability to reason clearly and make sound judgments.
• Inform appropriate counties of weather conditions via the National Warning System (NAWAS).
• Notify partners to the activation of the SEOC when necessary and alert the general public of emergency situations in their localities.
• Act as the SEOC Message Center during activations.
• Perform other duties and special projects as required.
• Travel may be required (approximately 10%), including during evening and weekends, depending on mission and assignment.
• Possession and maintenance of a valid Driver's License issued by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicle is required, or otherwise demonstrate the capacity to meet the transportation needs of the job.

This is a 365-day, 24 / 7 operation. Shifts will be assigned as follows and will also include weekends :

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).

Candidates who are current 55b / c eligible and meet the minimum qualifications are encouraged to apply. If interested in this position and applying using your 55b / c status, please provide us a couple of your current 55b / c eligibility letter. This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At a future date, it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in an NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

Support of operations during times of emergency and disaster from State Emergency Operations Center (EOC), state field offices and / or local deployments may be required, which would result in a change and / or increase in working hours, locations and / or duties.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.