Int. No. 1085-A
By Council Members Chin, Brewer, Gonzalez, James, Koo, Koppell, Lander, Mendez, Richards, Rose, Rodriquez, Arroyo, Mark-Viverito, Barron, Van Bramer and Williams
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to emergency preparedness recommendations for owners of residential and commercial buildings and the posting of emergency information in certain residential buildings.
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 30-113 to read as follows:
§30-113 Weather emergencies and prolonged utility outage preparedness recommendations for residential and commercial buildings. a. Coordinating with relevant agencies including the department of buildings, the department of housing preservation and development, and the fire department, the commissioner shall compile recommendations for how residential and commercial property owners may prepare for and communicate certain information to the tenants of such buildings in the event of a weather emergency, a natural disaster event or a utility outage which is expected to last for more than twenty-four hours. Such recommendations shall include, but not be limited to:
1. Information on determining the property's flood zone and evacuation zone;
2. The protective measures the building owner may provide or install to protect against flooding or other damage;
3. General advice on securing items appended to the building, such as window air conditioning units, patio furniture flower boxes, windows, doors and other loose items, during a weather emergency or natural disaster event;
4. General advice for buildings in flood zones on the use of electrical and mechanical equipment when there is a flood risk;
5. The types of options available to the property owner to rent equipment after a weather emergency, a natural disaster event or pending the restoration of utility services;
6. The methods that the property owner may use to communicate with tenants during and after a weather emergency, a natural disaster event or a utility outage which is expected to last for more than twenty-four hours and suggestions for communicating to tenants relevant building contacts for emergencies; and
7. The contact information for relevant city agencies to determine evacuation guidelines or learn other suggestions on how to protect persons and property during a weather emergency, a natural disaster event or a utility outage which is expected to last for more than twenty-four hours.
§2. Article 12 of subchapter 2 of chapter 2 of title 27 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 27-2051.1 to read as follows:
§27-2051.1 Temporary posting of emergency information. Prior to the expectant arrival of a weather emergency, a natural disaster event or after being informed about a utility outage which is expected to last for more than twenty-four hours, the owner of a residential dwelling where at least one dwelling unit is not occupied by such owner shall post the following information in common areas of the residential dwelling on signs of sufficient size to be seen: (i) whether the building is located in a hurricane evacuation zone as defined by the office of emergency management and if applicable, which zone the building is located in; (ii) the address of the nearest designated evacuation center; (iii) when a person should contact 911 and 311 during a weather emergency, a natural disaster event or the utility outage; (iv) whether during the utility outage, services such as potable water, corridor, egress, and common area lighting, fire safety and fire protection, elevators, charging locations for cellular telephones, domestic hot water, or heating and cooling will be provided; (v) contact information for building personnel in the event of an emergency, including email addresses, phone numbers and other methods of communication; (vi) instructions on removing furniture from rooftops and balconies during high wind events and; (vii) for buildings that utilize pumps, instructions on reducing water consumption during the utility outage. Such signs shall be updated by the owner of the residential building as needed and must be removed after the passage of the weather emergency, the natural disaster event or the restoration of utility services. The department shall determine the form of such signs including publishing a template that may be used by residential buildings for the purposes of this section.
§3. This local law shall take effect one hundred eighty days after its enactment, except that the department of housing preservation and development shall take all necessary action, including the promulgation of rules, prior to such effective date.
10/22/2013 9:41 PM