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Published: 2004

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New York state statutes provide that local government and emergency organizations serve as the "first line of defense in times of disaster" and that the state provides support as needed. The governor's powers include declaring a disaster, coordinating the response of state agencies after a disaster, issuing a declaration of significant economic distress for a municipality after a disaster, and allowing it to apply for state funding. The state disaster preparedness commission is responsible for developing a state disaster preparedness plan. Should a natural disaster significantly affect voter turnout, elections can be rescheduled to allow all voters an opportunity to participate. This report is one of a series that profiles emergency management and homeland security statutory authorities of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each profile identifies the more significant elements of state statutes, generally as codified. Congressional readers may wish to conduct further searches for related provisions using the Internet link presented in the last section of this report. The National Conference of State Legislatures provided primary research assistance in the development of these profiles under contract to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Summary information on all of the profiles is presented in CRS Report RL32287. This report will be updated as developments warrant.