WARREN COUNTY OFFICE of
NATURAL DISASTER and
CIVIL DEFENSE
4028 Main St. Warrensburg, New York 12885
Phone: (518) 761-6490 or (518)793-3861
On September 11, 1950 the Warren County Board of Supervisors established the county's first Office of Civil Defense. The action was taken in response to both federal and State legislation (Chapter 690 of the Laws of 1950) that had been enacted requiring county governments to create the office and head it with appropriate personnel. Gilbert J. Potter of Warrensburg was appointed Director at a salary of $1200 per year with Dr. Morris Masion of the Warren County Laboratory serving as medical consultant, an unpaid advisory position recommended by the NYS Department of Health.
A report presented to the Board by Potter's successor, Mr. Donald J. Smith, in 1952 noted the following: a fully equipped office located in the Warren County Highway Department Building, full-time staffing including evening hours (at the request of the NYS Civil Defense Commission), 320 cf of medical supplies for use in emergencies as well as training programs; six ground observor Posts, and 110 Civil Defense Volunteers!
With the construction of the Warren County Municipal Center in 1963, the office of Civil Defense moved to Queensbury, a location that served the office for nearly 40 years until it's return to Warrensburg in 1998. A division of the Department of Public Works, it is charged with maintaining disaster plans at both the town and county level; channeling requests for disaster aid from local and county governments to state and federal agencies; and serving as liaison to local hospitals, nursing homes, schools and the American Red Cross.
Historical Background Prepared by Pamela Vogel, Warren County Records Manager - 7/05/02
Sources:
Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors - 1950 and 1952
Rededication of the Warren County Municipal Center Booklet - Dec. 17, 1993 (department summaries)
Adobe Acrobat (PDF)
