[Adopted 11-12-1985 by Ord. No. 863]
Because of the existing and increasing possibility
of the occurrence of disasters of unprecedented size and destruction
from fire, flood, hurricane, tropical storm or other natural or man-made
causes, such as blackouts and power failures, aircraft accidents,
chemical and radiological accidents, and in order to ensure that preparations
of this Borough will be adequate to deal with such disasters and generally
to provide for the common defense and to protect the public health
and safety and to preserve the lives and property of the residents
of this Borough, it is hereby found and declared to be necessary to:
A. Create the Office of Emergency Management.
B. Provide for the rendering of mutual aid to other municipalities
within the State of New Jersey and adjoining states and to cooperate
with the state government with respect to carrying out emergency functions.
C. Create and test an emergency operations plan for all
divisions of Borough government in the event of one of the aforementioned
disasters.
It is further declared to be the purpose of
this article and the policy of this Borough that all emergency functions
of this Borough be coordinated to the maximum extent with the comparable
functions of the state government, including its various departments
and agencies, of other municipalities and private agencies of every
type so that a comprehensive plan may make the best use of this Borough's
manpower, resources and facilities in the event that a disaster does
occur.
The Emergency Management Coordinator shall appoint
Deputy Emergency Management Coordinators, with the approval of the
Mayor. Whenever possible, such deputies shall be appointed from among
the salaried officers or employees of the Borough. The Deputy Emergency
Management Coordinators shall also be designated Deputy Municipal
Disaster Control Directors pursuant to N.J.S.A. App. A:9-40.3.
The Office of Emergency Management shall, under
the direction of the Coordinator and Deputy Coordinators, test and
implement the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and be prepared
to activate it whenever necessary. The Emergency Management Coordinator
shall coordinate activities of the various municipal departments,
private businesses and agencies in the event of any of the aforementioned
disasters.
It shall be the responsibility of the Office
of Emergency Management to carry out and enforce such orders, rules
and regulations, as issued by the Mayor or the chain of command as
outlined by the emergency management plan, under the authority of
this article. The Office of Emergency Management shall have available
for inspection all such orders and rules and regulations made by the
Mayor or the chain of command or under their authority.
[Adopted 5-23-2007 by Ord. No. 09-2007]
This article shall be known and may be cited
and referred to as "The National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Ordinance for the Borough of Atlantic Highlands."
The following definitions shall apply in the
interpretation of this article:
COORDINATOR
The Coordinator of the Borough of Atlantic Highlands Office
of Emergency Management, appointed as prescribed in this article.
DISASTER
Includes but is not limited to actual or threatened enemy
attack, sabotage, extraordinary fire, flood, storm, epidemic, accident,
chemical spill or other impending or actual calamity endangering or
threatening to endanger health, life or property of constituted government.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Refers to the basic government functions of maintaining the
public peace, health and safety during an emergency. This term includes
plans and preparations for protection and relief, recovery and rehabilitation
from effects of an attack by the forces of an enemy nation or the
agents thereof, or a disaster as defined herein. It does not, however,
include any activity that is the primary responsibility of the military
forces of the United States.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FORCES
The employees, equipment and facilities of all Borough departments,
agencies, boards, councils, institutions and commissions; and in addition,
it shall include all volunteer personnel, equipment and facilities
contributed by, or obtained from, volunteer persons or agencies that
are assigned the duties of responding to emergencies within Atlantic
Highlands.
INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM (ICS)
The combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures,
and communications operating within a common organizational structure,
designed to aid in domestic incident management activities.
NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (NIMS)
A document produced by the Department of Homeland Security
under the direction of Presidential Directive-5 that strengthens response
capabilities through a balance between flexibility and standardization,
and use of common doctrine, terminology, concepts, principles, and
processes.
NIMS INTEGRATION CENTER (NIC)
The federal agency established to provide strategic direction
and oversight of the NIMS, supporting both routine maintenance and
continuous refinement of the system and its components. NIC develops
and facilitates national standards for the NIMS.
It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to
violate any of the provisions of this article or plans issued pursuant
to the authority contained herein, or to willfully obstruct, hinder
or delay any member of the Emergency Management organization as herein
defined in the enforcement of the provisions of this article or any
plan issued hereunder.
At all times when the orders, rules and regulations
made and promulgated pursuant to this article shall be in effect,
they shall supersede all existing ordinances, orders, rules and regulations
insofar as the latter may be inconsistent therewith.
The municipal organizations listed below are
hereby directed to provide in their bylaws for the implementation
during a disaster of the National Incident Management System, including
all forms and conditions specified therein.
A. Atlantic Highlands Fire Department.
B. Atlantic Highlands First Aid and Safety Squad.
C. Atlantic Highlands Office of Emergency Management.
D. Atlantic Highlands Police Department.