NYC Emergency Management Celebrates 30 Years of Assisting New Yorkers Before, During and After Emergencies.

April 30, 2026
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NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF ASSISTING NEW YORKERS BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER EMERGENCIES

April 2026 Marks NYCEM's 30th Anniversary and the Appointment of Ben Krakauer to First Deputy Commissioner

NEW YORK -- New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) celebrates its 30th anniversary, recognizing three decades of work preparing for emergencies, coordinating citywide response, and supporting recovery for 8.5 million New Yorkers across the five boroughs.

"During my over two decades at NYCEM, I've seen the city's emergency response become more coordinated, capable, and resilient," said NYCEM Commissioner Christina Farrell. "Every activation, big or small, pushes us to refine how we prepare, respond, and support New Yorkers through what could be the worst day of their lives. This work is only possible because of the incredible team of experts who have a deep commitment to public service and this city. As we mark this 30-year milestone, I am proud of what NYCEM has done for New York City, and I am confident in its strength to take on whatever comes next."

"It's an honor to return to NYCEM at a time when the demands on emergency management are only growing," said First Deputy Commissioner Ben Krakauer. "I started my career here working overnight in Watch Command learning what it means to serve New Yorkers during their most challenging moments. I'm honored to come back as First Deputy Commissioner and to work alongside this team to strengthen coordination, readiness, and response across the city."

Since its founding in 1996, NYCEM has served as the city's central hub for emergency coordination, bringing together dozens of city agencies, nonprofit partners, and private sector stakeholders to manage incidents of all kinds. NYCEM has helped New York City navigate disasters like hurricanes, extreme heat, flash flooding, blackouts, and other public health emergencies.

Today, NYCEM operates around the clock through its Watch Command, which monitors citywide conditions, coordinates response, and supports the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). This work also powers Notify NYC, the City's free emergency communications program, delivering real-time alerts to more than 1.5 million subscribers in multiple languages, including American Sign Language. These tools are central to NYCEM's mission to keep New Yorkers informed and prepared.

The 30th anniversary milestone also coincided with the return of Ben Krakauer to NYCEM as First Deputy Commissioner. A career public servant, Krakauer spent over a decade at the agency, rising from overnight Public Warning Specialist to Assistant Commissioner and founding what is now the Office of Strategic Operations. He led the City's Vaccine Command Center during the COVID-19 pandemic before joining FEMA, where he served as Senior Advisor to the Administrator and later built the agency's Individual Assistance Modernization Office, accelerating disaster relief for survivors across the country. As First Deputy Commissioner, Krakauer will oversee NYCEM's External Affairs, Response, Planning and Resiliency, Community Engagement, Readiness, and Logistics divisions.

NYCEM's community-based programs, including the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program and partnerships through the Strengthening Communities initiative, engage residents, community organizations, and local leaders to build preparedness at the neighborhood level.

These efforts include multilingual outreach and targeted engagement with communities that face higher risks during emergencies, including older adults, people with disabilities, and individuals with access and functional needs.

As emergencies become more frequent and complex due to climate change and other evolving risks, NYCEM continues to adapt its planning, coordination, and communications strategies to meet the needs of a growing and diverse city. The agency works closely with partners across government and the private sector to strengthen infrastructure resilience, improve situational awareness, and ensure that critical information reaches the public quickly and clearly.

New Yorkers can sign up for Notify NYC at NYC.gov/NotifyNYC or by downloading the free Notify NYC app.

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