Department of Buildings Holds Annual Full-Scale Emergency Response Drill in Queens

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 22, 2026
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DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS HOLDS ANNUAL FULL-SCALE EMERGENCY RESPONSE DRILL IN QUEENS

Professional Engineers, Registered Architects and Building Inspectors Take Part in Adaptive Damage Assessment Training to Bolster City's Emergency Response

View footage of the mayor's visit here.

New York, NY - Earlier today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani joined the Department of Buildings (DOB) and participants from the Fire Department (FDNY) Robotics Unit, NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM), Housing Preservation & Development (HPD), National Grid, and professionals from private engineering companies in concluding the 2026 New York City Continuity of Operations (COOP) Full-Scale Exercise Training. This 10-day Adaptive Damage Assessment training, held annually at DOB Buildings University in Manhattan and at Fort Totten in Queens, is spearheaded by DOB's Emergency Management Unit. The training provides emergency response professionals with hands-on rehearsals of protocols for wide-scale natural disasters affecting urban buildings.

"Every year climate change increases the risk of unpredictable and impactful weather events that can have devastating effects on our city," said Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. "To stay prepared for this new reality, our Emergency Management Unit provides ongoing training for DOB's engineers, architects, and inspectors so that these men and women can be relied upon as safety industry leaders. Programs like the COOP full-scale exercise that we completed today ensure that we are ready to deploy our expertise for when New Yorkers need it most."

The adaptive damage assessment training and emergency logistic protocols taught during this program are a critical component of the Department's ability to respond to large-scale natural disasters and smaller-scale flash flooding events. These training exercises enable DOB engineers and inspectors to quickly assess and document thousands of structures over a vast region and intervene at structurally damaged buildings that endanger the public. The Department's emergency response professionals applied these skills following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2004, tornado damage in Brooklyn and Queens in 2007, Superstorm Sandy in New York City in 2012, Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017, earthquakes in Puerto Rico in 2020, Hurricane Ida in New York City in 2021, Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico in 2022, and during torrential storms that impacted New York City in September 2023 and again in August 2024.

More than 200 emergency responders took part in this year's full-scale exercises at DOB headquarters and FDNY's facilities at Fort Totten. This training is reinforced by smaller training exercises conducted by DOB throughout the year. Regular COOP trainings provide a proactive playbook for city agencies and our partner organizations during recovery operations. In addition to DOB, FDNY's EMS Academy helped to coordinate and plan this year's field segment of exercises.

"Training exercises like this are essential to ensuring New York City is prepared for any emergency, from severe storms and flooding to large-scale structural damage," said Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore. "The FDNY is proud to work alongside the Department of Buildings and other partner agencies to strengthen our coordination and ensure that when New Yorkers need us, we are ready to respond effectively."

"Just days ago, New Yorkers experienced flash flooding that developed quickly and with little warning-the exact type of emergency these types of trainings help us prepare for," said NYCEM Commissioner Christina Farrell. "This COOP full-scale exercise prepares our city to respond when real emergencies strike. By bringing together agencies and emergency response professionals to practice real-world scenarios, we strengthen our city's coordination and improve our ability to respond when New Yorkers need us most."

"As catastrophic weather events become more frequent, it is imperative that New York City is ready to respond to any and all emergencies, particularly those triggered by increased flooding and other climate-related incidents," said Dina Levy, Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation & Development. "At HPD, the safety of New York residents is our top priority, and the COOP Full Scale Exercise Training ensures that our inspectors are prepared to assess damage in rapidly changing environments. When natural disasters occur, we must be able to respond quickly and effectively to protect our fellow New Yorkers."

"The COOP training equips building professionals with the practical skills and coordination needed to respond effectively after a disaster. Structural engineers play a critical role in evaluating building safety and helping communities recover post-disaster. This program ensures we are prepared to support the city when our expertise is needed most," said Anthony Piderit, SEAoNY President.

Each year the exercises include simulated field operations and structural damage assessment training using real buildings in various stages of disrepair located around Fort Totten. These practical exercises incorporate training on the use of the latest mapping and logistics technologies that are used to improve New York City's readiness in the event of a major disaster. In addition, participants study and implement the latest strategies and lessons learned by DOB experts during previous emergency events.

Learning objectives include review of best practices for addressing emergency scenarios, with a focus on flash flooding, and exploring adaptive strategies for damage assessment; review of the Citywide Incident Management System (CIMS) Core Competency for Structural Damage Assessment, and applying this knowledge in simulated emergency response scenarios during the field exercise; leveraging AI tools to enhance damage assessment by improving speed, accuracy, and efficiency in identifying structural and equipment damage; learning the Substantial Damage Assessment procedure to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements in severe weather conditions; conduct a near real-time After-Action Review (AAR) to evaluate the effectiveness of the assessment and response.

Check out our team in action: