Office of Emergency Management - General Information

Preparedness - Response - Recovery - Mitigation

Each municipality must have an assigned Emergency Management Coordinator and Deputy.

Little Falls Emergency Management Coordinator - Sgt. Dan Gianduso: dgianduso@lfnj.com
Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator - Capt. Jim Hearney (Ret): jhearney@lfnj.com

Every municipality and county in the state is required by law to have an approved emergency management plan. The plan considers all aspects of emergency services. The Local Emergency Planning Council (LEPC) identifies which hazards endanger their community and plan accordingly. LEPCs usually consist of traditional emergency personnel such as police, fire, and EMS, as well as non-traditional emergency personnel such as Health Department, Public Works, Engineering or Building Department, Administrative and Finance personnel.

Little Falls OEM also works with the Passaic County Office of Emergency Management, State of N.J. Office of Emergency Management  and surrounding Towns in training and preparing for emergencies.

Community Emergency Response Team
www.ready.gov/community-emergency-response-team

In an emergency, whether resulting from a natural disaster, crime, terrorist related act, or an emergency of any kind, local government resources will be the first responders and the first line of defense.

Following a major disaster, first responders who provide emergency services won't be able to meet the demands placed upon them. Factors like the number of victims, communication failures and roadblocks may prevent people from accessing the type of services they've come to expect at a moment’s notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help to meet their immediate needs until professional emergency responders can reach them.

The Little Falls Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a program that provides residents with basic training on what to do before, during and after a disaster. Most importantly, the training aids the participant in protecting themselves and their families during emergency situations. Trained CERT members may also participate in helping their community through organized or county level emergency management.

The Little Falls CERT members span in age from young adults to members who are Senior Citizens. Little Falls CERT manages the township’s emergency shelter when needed, participates and assists in civic activities, parades and emergencies. CERT also distributes supplies to residents during and after flooding events. The CERT Team meets on the last Thursday of the month at the Little Falls Civic Center, 19 Warren St. at 7pm.

There is no cost to participate in the course which is held periodically at the Passaic County Public Safety Academy 300 Oldham Rd. Wayne N.J. At the completion of the program, basic CERT safety equipment is issued to each successful participant.

Little Falls residents should contact  Sgt. Dan Gianduso, OEM coordinator at dgianduso@lfnj.com if interested in joining the Little Falls CERT Team.

Special Needs Registry                               

In order to better serve the special needs population of the Township, and to insure that all agencies have access to a common confidential list, residents who meet this criteria, are encouraged to register with Register Ready at www.registerready.nj.gov

“Register Ready – New jersey’s Special Needs Registry for Disasters” allows New Jersey residents with disabilities, or access and functional needs and their families, friends, caregivers and associates an opportunity to provide information to emergency response agencies so emergency responders can better plan to serve them in a disaster or other emergency.

The first line of defense against the effects of a disaster is personal preparedness. During an emergency, the government and other agencies may not be able to meet your needs. It is important for all citizens to make their own emergency plans and prepare for their own care and safety in an emergency. Registering with Register Ready is not a guarantee that emergency officials will be able to assist you in an emergency.

Those with special needs who live and work in the Township of Little Falls are encouraged to register with New Jersey Register Ready

The Township of Little Falls Office of Emergency Management is encouraging those with special needs who live and work in the Township of Little Falls to register with New Jersey Register Ready, the Special Needs Registry of New Jersey for Disasters.

The purpose of this database is to, in the event of a natural disaster or acts of terrorism, provide the Township of Little Falls Police Department, Fire Department and Office of Emergency Management with a list of residents who may need assistance with evacuation and/or relocation. Although this database will not guarantee assistance to you or your loved one during a disaster, it will allow the Police Department, Fire Department and Office of Emergency Management to more effectively prioritize the use of resources during an emergency. It will, further, provide the Police Department, Fire Department and Office of Emergency Management with an awareness of those with special needs who live and work in the Township to help better plan for adverse conditions that may develop in the future. Examples of special needs, for the purpose of this program, include, but are not limited to, those who may have difficulties associated with communication, transportation, maintaining independence, medical and supervision activities. Any other difficulty that may exist associated with an act of daily living, which will limit the ability to evacuate, relocate and/or care for oneself during a disaster, is an automatic grant into the program. While signing up with Register Ready is not a guarantee of individual assistance during an emergency, the information provided will increase the ability of local responders to best utilize available resources that will be stressed during this critical time.

The Township of Little Falls Office of Emergency Management encourages registration through the internet at http://www.registerreadv.ni.gov. Additionally, the non emergency number 2-1-1 is available to assist with registering. Registration in New Jersey’s Register Ready is voluntary, free to all with the data stored in a secure system not accessible to the public.

Other useful informational links:

Plan Ahead for Disasters
www.ready.gov

Office of Homeland Security
https://www.dhs.gov/​

American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org

Salvation Army
http://salvationarmyusa.org

Links for General Information In The Event of an Emergency
Basic Disaster Supplies Kit
Home Emergency and Disaster Safety

Hurricane season starts June 1. Hurricane awareness information can be found on the National Hurricane Center Web Site. Be prepared, visit The National Hurricane Center Web Site and click on Hurricane Awareness-Be Prepared/Learn then click on Be Prepared for important hurricane preparedness information for residents and businesses.   

For Schools and Day/Child Care Centers, important information is available for your needs at: 
http://www.state.nj.us/njoem/preparedness.html
Information such as the following can be found at the following links on the Preparedness website:

  • Emergency Planning Guidance for NJ School Officials
  • Disaster-Related Websites for Parents, Teachers, & School Officials
  • Emergency Planning Information for Day Care Centers, Child Care Centers and Pre-K Schools

U.S. Department of Education School Emergency Planning Website - contains extensive resources pertaining to school emergency planning. Toolkits, planning checklists, planning guidance. Some materials available in Spanish

Little Falls Office of Emergency Management is also on Facebook and Twitter

The Little Falls Township Office of Emergency Management will continue to maintain and update this site. Please consider the site as constantly under construction. In case of disaster our best defense is being sure each and every one of us is aware of what to do and how, when and where to do it. "Be Prepared" is not just a motto, it is an absolute necessity.

Other Useful Links on Disaster Preparedness:

USEFUL LINKS IN FLOOD PREPAREDNESS

Visit our Flood Management Page by clicking the link below.