[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
Warwick 4-22-1996 by Ord. No. 96-1. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Emergency management — See Ch. 73.
A local emergency management agency is hereby established and shall
be known as "Warwick Township Emergency Management Agency."
Warwick Township Emergency Management Agency is established pursuant
to the provisions of the Emergency Management Services Code (35 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 7501 et seq.).
Warwick Township Emergency Management Agency shall have the responsibility
for emergency management and disaster response and recovery within Warwick
Township, including but not limited to the preparation and maintenance of
an Emergency Management Plan. The Warwick Township Emergency Management Agency
shall also provide emergency management and disaster response and recovery
services outside Warwick Township as required by the terms and conditions
of this chapter.
A.
A local disaster emergency may be declared by the Board
of Supervisors of Warwick Township. In addition, the Township Manager, upon
recommendation of the Emergency Management Coordinator, is hereby authorized
to declare a local disaster emergency subject to ratification by the Board
of Supervisors within seven days of such declaration.
B.
The declaration of a local disaster emergency shall not
be continued or renewed for a period in excess of seven days unless approved
by the Board of Supervisors.
C.
Any order or proclamation declaring, continuing or terminating
a local disaster emergency shall be given prompt and general publicity, and
a copy of any such order or proclamation shall be filed promptly with the
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
D.
Upon declaration of a local disaster emergency, the applicable
response and recovery aspects of Warwick Township Local Emergency Management
Plan shall be activated, and all provisions for aid and assistance thereunder
shall be authorized.
Upon declaration of a disaster emergency, Warwick Township, pursuant
to § 7301(c) of the Emergency Management Services Code,[1] shall be authorized to exercise the powers granted in the chapter
without regard to time-consuming procedures and formalities prescribed by
law (excepting mandatory constitutional requirements) pertaining to the performance
of public work, entering into contracts, the incurring of obligations, the
employment of temporary workers, the rental of equipment, the purchase of
supplies and materials, the levying of taxes and the appropriation and expenditure
of public funds. In addition, upon the declaration of a disaster emergency
Warwick Township is authorized to avail itself of the provisions of Act of
August 5, 1941 (P.L. 752, No. 286),[2] known as the "Civil Defense Act," in connection with the employment
of personnel in local organizations established pursuant to the provisions
of this chapter.
A.
Warwick Township Emergency Management Agency shall have
a Coordinator who shall be responsible for the planning, administration, and
operation of the agency subject to the direction and control of the Board
of Supervisors.
B.
The Coordinator of Warwick Township Emergency Management
Agency shall be appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
upon recommendation of Warwick Township. Warwick Township may, upon agreement
by resolution with adjoining municipalities, recommend to the Governor a candidate
for Coordinator for emergency management activities in the said political
subdivisions. The Warwick Township Emergency Management Coordinator shall
serve at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors.
C.
The Coordinator of Warwick Township Emergency Management
Agency shall:
(1)
Be professionally competent and capable of planning,
effecting and coordinating operations among agencies of government and controlling
coordinated operations by local emergency preparedness forces;
(2)
Attend and successfully complete the first phase of the
career development program as prescribed by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management
Agency within one year after appointment;
(3)
Attend and successfully complete the second phase of
the career development program as prescribed by the Pennsylvania Emergency
Management Agency within three years after appointment;
(4)
Attend basic and advanced seminars, workshops and training
conferences called by the Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management
Agency and/or its Director of Training and Education;
D.
Failure to attend and successfully complete the career development
program phases, as described above, or failure to attend a prescribed training
program for two consecutive years shall be cause for replacement of the Coordinator
of Warwick Township Emergency Management Agency;
E.
Responsibility for the professional in-service training of the
Coordinator of Warwick Township Emergency Management Agency shall rest with
the Emergency Management Coordinator of Bucks County.
F.
Warwick Township will reimburse its Coordinator for actual
expenses incurred as the result of his or her attendance at scheduled meetings
and training programs.
Warwick Township Emergency Management Agency is hereby directed to:
A.
Prepare, maintain and keep current an Emergency Operations
Plan for Warwick Township for the prevention and minimizing of injury and
damage caused by disaster, for prompt and effective response to disaster and
for disaster emergency relief and recovery in consonance with the Pennsylvania
Emergency Management Plan and the Bucks County Emergency Management Plan;
B.
Establish, equip, and staff an emergency operations center
for Warwick Township;
C.
Establish a warning and communications system for Warwick
Township that will support governmental operations in emergencies;
D.
Provide essential facilities and equipment to those agencies
and organizations that have been assigned emergency functions under the provisions
of this chapter;
E.
Provide individual and organizational training programs
for police officers, fire fighters, rescue personnel, ambulance personnel,
emergency management volunteers and the general public to insure prompt, efficient
and effective disaster emergency services;
F.
Organize, prepare, and coordinate all locally available
manpower, materials, supplies, equipment, and facilities necessary for disaster
emergency readiness, response and recovery;
G.
Adopt and implement precautionary measures to mitigate
the anticipated effects of a disaster;
H.
Execute and enforce such rules, regulations and orders
as Warwick Township Emergency Management Agency may adopt pursuant to the
provisions of this chapter;
I.
Cooperate and coordinate with any public and private
agencies or entities in achieving any purpose of this chapter;
J.
Have available for inspection at its emergency operations
center all emergency management plans, rules, regulations, and orders of the
Governor and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency;
K.
Review all ordinances which have the potential to impact
emergency management in Warwick Township and submit recommendations to the
Board of Supervisors;
L.
Provide prompt and accurate information regarding local
disaster emergencies to appropriate commonwealth and local officials and agencies
and the general public;
M.
Review the features of and responses to past emergencies
to improve future responses;
N.
Make monthly reports to Warwick Township on the status
and programs of Warwick Township Emergency Management Agency, its personnel,
programs, and plans;
O.
Execute and enforce such rules and orders as may be adopted
by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency;
P.
Make timely recommendations to and secure the consent
of Warwick Township concerning the development of plans, the acquisition of
materials, supplies, and equipment and the development of a budget for the
agency, except as provided for in disaster emergencies;
Q.
Identify areas within Warwick Township that are particularly
vulnerable to disaster;
R.
Upon request of the Board of Supervisors or designated
official, assist Warwick Township and/or its police, fire, rescue, or emergency
medical services in handling and coordinating special, nondisaster emergencies
and situations.
A.
The Emergency Management Agency shall consist of nine
members, and shall include member(s) of the Board of Supervisors, the Chief
of Police, Warwick Township EMC, the Warwick Township Fire Marshal, the Chief
of Warwick Township Fire Company No. 1, the Township Manager, the Warwick
Township Public Works Director, the Chairman of Emergency Services, and a
practicing physician or nurse.
(1)
The members of the Emergency Management Agency shall
serve continuously during their term of public office except for the physician
or nurse, who shall serve until replaced by Warwick Township;
(2)
Only designated members of the Emergency Management Agency
may vote on matters before the Agency;
(3)
In the event that one of the members of the Agency is
unable to attend a meeting of the Emergency Management Agency, the member
may send a representative from his or her department or agency in his stead.
B.
Warwick Township Emergency Management Agency shall:
(1)
Elect its own Chairman and other officers as the body
may deem appropriate;
(2)
Provide recommendations and assistance to the Coordinator
as deemed appropriate concerning the plans, activities, and role of Warwick
Township Emergency Management Agency;
(3)
Assist in the preparation and maintenance of Warwick
Township Disaster Emergency Plan;
(4)
Recruit and assist in the training of emergency personnel
and represent Warwick Township Emergency Management Agency at training programs,
seminars and public meetings;
(5)
Review all emergency declarations and make recommendations
to the Board of Supervisors and the Coordinator. Provide whatever other aid
or assistance that the Coordinator may request.
The Coordinator of Warwick Township Emergency Management Agency shall
develop and maintain mutual aid agreements with adjacent political subdivisions
for reciprocal emergency assistance. The agreements shall be consistent with
the plans and program of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and
the Bucks County Emergency Management Agency. The agreements shall stipulate
that direction of emergency disaster assistance is the responsibility of the
lowest level of government affected, that the County Emergency Management
Agency shall provide coordination and support when more than one political
subdivision within Bucks County is affected, and that the Pennsylvania Emergency
Management Agency or its area organization, as outlined above, having responsibility
for coordination and, in time of emergency, it shall be the duty of Warwick
Township Emergency Management Agency to render assistance in accordance with
these mutual aid agreements. In all cases, support services provided from
outside the affected area shall remain under the command and control of the
receiving area.
A.
Except during local disaster emergencies, the Board of
Supervisors shall:
Any gift or grants of monies made to Warwick Township Emergency Management
Agency or to Warwick Township for the payment of expenses incurred or to be
incurred by or for the Emergency Management Agency shall be deposited in the
treasury of Warwick Township and shall be appropriated only for the purpose
for which the gift or grants were made.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting Warwick Township
Emergency Management Agency or Warwick Township Emergency Management Advisory
Council from providing representation to other boards or agencies, as outside
emergency management advisory boards, emergency health services councils,
and/or regional communications committees, that coordinate with or otherwise
impact the delivery of emergency management services.
Warwick Township Emergency Management Agency shall, with the approval
of the Board of Supervisors, adopt such insignia and/or other identifying
marks or markings as are necessary to ensure the correct, prompt identification
of its personnel, equipment and facilities.
The provisions of the "Emergency Management Services Code" of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, Act 1978-323 (P.L. 1332),[1] shall govern the emergency management activities of Warwick Township
and the Warwick Township Emergency Management Agency Council except in circumstances
where the "Emergency Management Services Code" does not address local provisions
or conditions provided for by this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 35 Pa.C.S.A. § 7101 et seq.
