[Adopted 2-14-1989 by Ord. No. 430
(Ch. 1, Part 5A of the 1996 Code)]
The purpose of an emergency management policy is to anticipate the happening
of an unexpected event within the Borough giving rise to conditions which
could seriously affect the health, safety or welfare of a substantial number
of residents and interrupt the operation of essential public services. This
is a result of the mandate of Section 7503 of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management
Services Code, 35 Pa. C.S.A. § 7101 et seq. which requires the Borough
of Coopersburg to prepare, maintain and keep current an Emergency Operations
Plan (EOP) for the prevention and minimization of injury and damage caused
by a major emergency or disaster.
Inasmuch as different natural and man-made events which may develop
the potential for disaster will call for differing approaches and varied and
distinctive problems, at times, an Emergency Operations Plan will have sets
of different procedures designed to meet the problems anticipated from the
developing event. The Emergency Operations Plan of the Borough of Coopersburg
has been set up in contemplation of the following possibilities of events:
A. Flood, hurricanes, rain and wind.
E. Search/rescue of missing persons, drowning, downed aircraft,
or similar emergency situations.
F. Train derailments, motor vehicle calamities, fire or
explosion related calamities.
G. Evacuations from distant municipalities (nuclear accident).
At the moment the Emergency Operations Plan goes into effect and the
Emergency Management Director or other "leader" in the chain of command begins
both an objective and a subjective performance, the ultimate test of judgment
in an emergency. Beyond the Plan (which should be at fingertips at this time)
the following sequence of activities will take place by the individual in
charge:
A. A quick analysis of the nature and scope of the event;
people involved; and persons and institutions needed immediately.
B. A setting in motion of activity to reach out to county,
state and federal civil defense or emergency officials.
C. A search for private sector responsible persons if the
calamity has been set off by actors or agencies of commerce or industry.
D. A designation of individual or individuals to make records
of sequence and happening of events, with objective data development an important
priority.
E. A submission of initial and follow-up reports to county,
area or state emergency management offices.
F. A submission of damage assessment reports when requested.
G. Review events and plan improvements in existing Emergency
Operations Plan.
In response to the mandate of § 7503 of the Pennsylvania Management
Services Code, 35 Pa. C.S.A. § 7102 et seq. the Borough of Coopersburg
hereby adopts the Generic Emergency Operation Plan submitted by the Department
of Property Services of the Office of Civil Defense of the County of Lehigh,
submitted January 4, 1989, in form, contents and style as adapted to the Borough
institutions and personnel therein named to carry out stated functions. The
Emergency Operations Plan of the Borough of Coopersburg shall be revised and
readopted as revised, annually, at the first meeting of the Borough Council
in January of each calendar year; such action to be taken by resolution, and
the first resolution number of each calendar year is so designated to be utilized
for this administrative purpose. Each such resolution, from year to year,
is hereby designated to be a part and parcel of this article and incorporated
by reference therein.
[Adopted 3-22-1994 by Res. No. 2-94
(Ch. 1, Part 5B of the 1996 Code)]
The Borough of Coopersburg Council does hereby approve, adopt and place
into immediate effect the Emergency Operations Plan of the Borough of Coopersburg.
This plan shall be revised on an annual basis to make certain that it conforms
with the requirements of the Lehigh County Emergency Operations Plan.