Established in 1996 as a mayoral office, the New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) was granted departmental status in the New York City Charter in November 2001. NYCEM maintains the City's emergency response plans and tests plans regularly through tabletop and field exercises; educates the public about emergency preparedness and the importance of planning for an emergency through its Ready New York campaign; monitors ongoing events and emergencies, intelligence and weather reports in the New York City area; coordinates multi-agency emergency response and recovery efforts; collects and disseminates critical information; and obtains funding and other aid in support of the overall preparedness of the City of New York.