In accordance with R.I.G.L. § 30-15-1 et seq., the Portsmouth
Town Council hereby establishes a Town of Portsmouth Emergency Management
Agency, headed by an Emergency Management Director who shall be appointed
by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Portsmouth Town Council. The
purpose of the Agency is to plan and coordinate the Town's response
to any occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage,
injury, loss of property, or loss of life, whether caused by persons
or resulting from acts of nature, including but not limited to fire,
flood, earthquake, wind, storm, wave action, oil spill or other water
contamination requiring emergency action to avert danger or damage,
epidemic, air contamination, blight, drought, infestation, explosion,
riot, hostile military or paramilitary action, or an act of bioterrorism
or endangerment of the health, safety and resources of the people
of the Town.
The Agency shall have powers and duties within the Town of Portsmouth
similar to those of the statewide disaster agency. The Agency shall
cooperate with and assist the State Emergency Management Agency and
shall perform such services as may be requested by it. The Agency
may act jointly with other local emergency management agencies.
The Town Council President of the Town of Portsmouth has powers
and duties with respect to emergency management within the Town similar
to those of the Governor on the state level, not inconsistent with
other provisions of law.
A local disaster emergency may be declared only by the Town Council
President of the Town of Portsmouth. It shall not be continued or
renewed for a period in excess of seven days, except by or with the
consent of the Town Council of the Town of Portsmouth. Any order or
proclamation declaring, continuing, or terminating a local disaster
emergency shall be given prompt and general publicity and shall be
filed promptly with the Town Clerk. Should the Town Council President
be unable to perform the declaration of disaster duties, those duties
will fall in order of precedence to the Town officials described in
the Town’s Emergency Operations Plan approved by the Town Council,
under the plan’s section titled Duties of the Town’s Chief
Executive Officer.
The effect of a declaration of a local disaster emergency is to activate
the mitigation response and recovery aspects of any and all applicable
local disaster emergency plans and to authorize the furnishing of
aid and assistance thereunder.