NEW YORK – FDNY Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta today announced a plan to enhance critical response in the event of terrorist attacks and large scale emergencies throughout the city. The FDNY Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness Strategy defines the mission of the FDNY, operational adjustments made since the attacks on 9/11, and how the department plans to evolve and meet the demands of the future.

"The strategy gives a clear and concise road map on how the FDNY can best protect millions of New Yorkers and our courageous firefighters and EMS members in the event of a major disaster," Commissioner Scoppetta said. "In this ever-changing world, our members must be ready for anything, and this plan is an essential tool."

Implementation of the strategy will be spearheaded by Deputy Assistant Chief Joseph Pfeifer, head of the FDNY Center for Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness, and will focus on adaptability, response capabilities, incident prevention and protection, and coordination. More specific aspects of the plan will address communication and interoperability on a city-wide level as well as community education to ensure that more citizens have basic CPR and First Aid skills.

The department hopes the emphasis on collaboration between citizens and uniformed staff will lead to a more streamlined approach at disaster preparedness in terms of emergency response and training as well as long-term planning.