A local emergency management agency is hereby established and
shall be known as the "Coolbaugh Township Emergency Management Agency."
The Coolbaugh Township Emergency Management Agency is established
pursuant to the provisions of the Emergency Management Services Code,
35 Pa.C.S.A. § 7501 et seq.
The Coolbaugh Township Emergency Management Agency shall have
the responsibility for emergency management and disaster response
and recovery within Coolbaugh Township. The Coolbaugh Township Emergency
Management Agency shall also provide emergency management and disaster
response and recovery services outside Coolbaugh Township as required
by the terms and conditions of this chapter.
Upon declaration of a disaster emergency, Coolbaugh Township,
pursuant to § 7301(c) of the Emergency Management Services
Code, shall be authorized to exercise the powers granted in the Part
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, Coolbaugh Township is
authorized to avail itself of the provisions of Act of August 5, 1941
(P.L. 752, No. 286), known as the "Civil Service Act," in connection
with the employment of personnel in local organizations established
pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
The Coolbaugh Township Emergency Management Agency is hereby
directed to:
A. Prepare, maintain and keep current a disaster emergency plan for
Coolbaugh 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 Monroe County Emergency
Management Plan.
B. Establish, equip and staff an emergency operations center for Coolbaugh
Township.
C. Establish a warning and communications system for Coolbaugh 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, firefighters, 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 the Coolbaugh
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 as its emergency operations center
all emergency management plans, rules, regulations and orders of the
Governor and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
K. Provide prompt and accurate information regarding local disaster
emergencies to appropriate Commonwealth and local officials and agencies
and the general public.
L. Make monthly reports to Coolbaugh Township on the status and programs
of the Coolbaugh Township Emergency Management Agency, its personnel,
programs and plans.
M. Execute and enforce such rules and orders as may be adopted by the
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
N. Make timely recommendations to and secure the consent of Coolbaugh
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.
O. Identify areas within Coolbaugh Township that are particularly vulnerable
to disaster.
P. Upon request of the Coolbaugh Township Board of Supervisors or the
Chairman of the Board, assist the Board of Supervisors and/or its
police, fire, rescue or emergency medical services in handling and
coordinating special, nondisaster emergencies and situations.
The Coordinator of the Coolbaugh 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 Monroe County Emergency Management
Agency. The agreement 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 political subdivision within
Monroe County is affected, and that the Pennsylvania Emergency Management
Agency or its area organization shall provide coordination and support
when two or more counties are affected. In disaster emergencies, requests
for mutual aid assistance shall be referred to the organization, as
outlined above, having responsibility for coordination and, in time
of emergency, it shall be the duty of the Coolbaugh 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.
Any gift or grants of monies made to the Coolbaugh Township
Emergency Management Agency or to the Board of Supervisors for the
payment of expenses incurred or to be incurred by or for the Emergency
Management Agency shall be deposited in the treasury of Coolbaugh
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 the
Coolbaugh Township Emergency Management Agency or the Coolbaugh Township
Emergency Management Advisory Council from providing representation
to other boards or agencies, as outside emergency management advisory
boards, emergency health services councils, regional communications
committees that coordinate with or otherwise impacts the delivery
of emergency management services.
The Coolbaugh 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 Service Code of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Act 1978-323, P.L. 1332, shall govern the emergency management activities of Coolbaugh
Township and the Coolbaugh Emergency Management Agency and its Coolbaugh
Township Emergency Management Advisory Council except in circumstances
where Emergency Management Services Code does not address local provisions
or conditions provided for by this chapter.