[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township
of Pemberton 10-23-2013 by Ord. No. 19-2013. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
The following words and phrases, as used in this chapter, shall
have the following meanings:
Any unusual incident resulting from natural or unnatural
causes which endangers the health, safety or resources of the residents
of one or more municipalities of the state and which is or may become
too large in scope or unusual in type to be handled in its entirety
by regular municipal operating services.
Includes "disaster," as defined herein.
Any flood, blizzard, frost, hurricane, storm, tornado, high
water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, drought, fire, explosion, civil
disorder or other catastrophe which is or threatens to be of sufficient
severity and magnitude to substantially endanger the health, safety,
resources and property of the citizens of the Township of Pemberton,
the imminence thereof which affects the Township but is not so severe
as to require action by the Governor of New Jersey or the County Emergency
Management Coordinator as described in the New Jersey Civilian Defense
and Disaster Control Act (N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33 et seq.).
A.Â
There
shall be within the Township of Pemberton an Office of Emergency Management,
the head of which shall be known as the "Emergency Management Coordinator"
(hereinafter referred to as the "Coordinator"), who shall be appointed
as set forth herein.
B.Â
There
shall be within the Township a Local Emergency Planning Committee
("LEPC") composed of not more than 15 members, who shall be appointed
by and hold office at the will of the Mayor.
C.Â
Aside
from the Coordinator, the LEPC shall include representation from the
following groups and organizations, if practicable:
(1)Â
Elected and local officials;
(2)Â
Law enforcement;
(3)Â
Fire service;
(4)Â
EMS;
(5)Â
Health;
(6)Â
Local environmental and transportation agencies;
(7)Â
Hospitals;
(8)Â
Local media representatives;
(9)Â
Community groups;
(10)Â
Representatives of facilities subject to the emergency planning and
community right-to-know requirements; and
(11)Â
Local business leaders.
A.Â
The
LEPC shall assist the Township in establishing the various local volunteer
agencies needed to meet the requirements of all local emergency management
activities, in accordance with rules and regulations established by
the Governor in pursuance of the provisions of N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33
et seq. The LEPC is authorized, within the limits of appropriations,
to establish an adequate organization to assist in supervising and
coordinating the emergency management activities of the Township.
B.Â
The
LEPC shall also assist in the management, supervision, and coordination
of the volunteer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in the Township,
subject to the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations
promulgated by the Mayor. CERT members shall give critical support
to first responders during emergencies, provide immediate assistance
to victims, organize volunteers at disaster sites, and collect disaster
intelligence to support first responder efforts.
C.Â
It
shall be lawful for the members of the LEPC also to be members of
other agencies created to respond to and/or coordinate activities
related to emergencies.
D.Â
This
chapter does not relieve any Township department or agency of the
responsibilities or authority given by state statute or by local ordinance,
nor is it intended to adversely affect the work of any volunteer agency
organized for relief in emergencies.
E.Â
This
chapter is based on the New Jersey Civil Defense and Disaster Control
Act, N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33 et seq., copies of which are on file with
the Township Clerk and available for public inspection.
The LEPC shall meet at such times as may be required by applicable
federal and state law, and necessary to fulfill the requirements set
forth in this chapter as determined by the Coordinator, or at any
time during an emergency situation as requested by the Mayor or the
Business Administrator.
A.Â
Appointment;
term. The Mayor shall appoint an Emergency Management Coordinator,
who shall be a resident of the Township and who shall serve for a
term of three years. The Coordinator shall serve as a member, as well
as the Chairperson, of the LEPC.
B.Â
Qualifications.
As a condition of appointment and continuance in office, the Coordinator
shall have successfully completed, at the time of his appointment
or within one year immediately following his appointment or the effective
date of this chapter, whichever is later, the current approved home
study course and the basic emergency management workshop. The failure
to fulfill such requirements within the period prescribed shall disqualify
the Coordinator from continuing in the office of Coordinator, and
thereupon a vacancy in such office shall be deemed to have been created.
C.Â
The
Coordinator shall appoint a Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator
with the approval of the Mayor. Wherever possible, such Deputy shall
be appointed from among the salaried officers or employees of the
Township.
D.Â
Powers
and duties. The powers of the Coordinator shall be as follows:
(1)Â
The Coordinator shall be responsible for the planning, activating,
coordinating and conducting of emergency management operations within
the Township, including coordinating the activities of local municipal
departments within the Township and providing them with necessary
guidance and advice for the development of emergency management programs.
(2)Â
The Coordinator shall also manage, supervise, and coordinate a volunteer
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in the Township, subject
to rules and regulations promulgated by the Mayor. CERT members shall
give critical support to first responders during emergencies, provide
immediate assistance to victims, organize volunteers at disaster sites,
and collect disaster intelligence to support first responder efforts.
(3)Â
A state of local disaster emergency, as defined by applicable law
and in this chapter, shall be proclaimed pursuant to the authority
set forth in the New Jersey Civilian Defense and Disaster Control
Act, App. A:9-33 et seq., whenever, in the opinion of the Coordinator,
a "state of local disaster emergency" has occurred or is imminent
within the Township. The Coordinator, in accordance with regulations
promulgated or hereinafter promulgated by the State Director of Emergency
Management, shall be empowered to issue and enforce such orders as
may be necessary to implement and carry out emergency management operations
and to protect the health, safety and resources of the residents of
the Township.
(4)Â
Coordinate the activities of the Township emergency management staff
in conjunction with the Chief of Police and provide definitive information
concerning emergency management programs and policies.
(5)Â
Prepare budgets, statistical reports, evaluations and other reports
that relate to emergencies in the Township and submit same to the
Mayor, Business Administrator and the appropriate county and state
officials.
(6)Â
Conduct studies and make changes in the existing organization and
operation, consistent with applicable law and this chapter, to assure
continuity between all components of the Township emergency management
unit.
(7)Â
Develop an emergency operating center (EOC) and prepare the Emergency
Operating Plan (EOP) for the immediate use of all the facilities,
equipment, manpower and other resources of the Township needed for
the purpose of minimizing or preventing injury to persons and damage
to property and protecting and restoring to usefulness governmental
services and public utilities necessary for the public health, safety
and welfare.
(8)Â
Develop and conduct drills and exercises for the Township staff and
assist in the planning and review of the municipal training program
for conformity with county and state criteria.
(9)Â
Confer with the Mayor or the Business Administrator for the development
of mutual aid programs, for the planning and organization of emergency
management programs and for the establishment of a municipal emergency
management unit, provide advice and guidance on emergency management
programs and policies, and review plans for conformity with state
and county programs.
(10)Â
Coordinate the recruitment and training of volunteer personnel and
agencies in order to augment the emergency personnel and facilities
of the Township.
(11)Â
Attend schools, seminars and meetings which enhance the overall emergency
management structure of the Township.
(12)Â
The Coordinator shall only request aid in accordance with the provisions
of N.J.S.A. App. A:9-40.6. The state statute and mutual aid agreements
with other entities shall govern requests for aid outside of local
resources.
(13)Â
Coordinate with the Chief of Police for the overall management and
deployment of police during properly declared state or local emergencies
or disasters and during periods of bona fide training in preparation
for such occurrences.
(14)Â
In emergency situations, coordinate the alerting and mobilization
of the municipal emergency management organizations and assist in
the processing of requests for emergency aid and the dispatching of
aid to the points of greatest need.
(15)Â
During the emergency, the Coordinator shall consult with the Mayor
and/or the Township Administrator regarding the municipal personnel
resources, municipal equipment, and expenditure of municipal funds
necessary to respond to the declared emergency. In the event that
the Mayor and the Business Administrator are not available for consultation
by way of reasonable means of communication or where exigent circumstances
require immediate action by the Coordinator which precludes the opportunity
to consult, the Coordinator shall take whatever reasonable action
is necessary to protect the health, safety and resources of the residents
of the Township.
A comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) shall be adopted
and maintained by directive of the Mayor. The EOP shall be prepared
by the Coordinator and submitted for approval by the Mayor and will
outline the duties and responsibilities under this chapter and all
other applicable regulatory requirements. In preparation of the EOP,
the Coordinator will consult with all municipal department heads whose
departments will be assigned duties and responsibilities under the
plan, and said department heads will assist the Coordinator in preparation
or modification of the plan. In the preparation or any modification
of the plan as it pertains to the Township organization, it is the
intent that the services, equipment, facilities and personnel of all
existing departments and agencies shall be utilized to the fullest
extent. When the plan is approved, it shall be the duty of all municipal
departments and agencies to perform the functions assigned by the
plan and to maintain their portion of the plan in a current state
of readiness at all times. The plan shall be considered supplementary
to and an implementation of this chapter and N.J.S.A. App. A:9-33
et seq.
Within the Office of Emergency Management, there shall be established
the Pemberton Township Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) as
follows:
A.Â
CERT
shall respond to man-made and natural disasters, and other emergencies,
as directed by the Coordinator.
B.Â
CERT
shall be activated by and shall report to the Coordinator, or the
Coordinator's designee, as directed.
C.Â
CERT
may be called upon to assist in large planned community events.
D.Â
In
the event CERT activation is requested by the Burlington County Emergency
Management Coordinator for emergency services outside of the Township
of Pemberton, the Coordinator shall activate CERT. The county shall
provide insurance coverage for CERT members and Township equipment,
including but not limited to general liability and workers' compensation.
E.Â
CERT
shall only use municipal property and equipment approved for use by
the municipality and authorized by the Coordinator for the particular
emergency and/or event for which services are being rendered. However,
no CERT member shall use any municipal property or equipment without
first receiving proper training and demonstrating proficiency in its
use, if applicable.
F.Â
With
the express consent of the Coordinator, CERT may use equipment provided
by other local jurisdictions.
G.Â
The
Coordinator shall be responsible for providing all training and preparation
of CERT members which may be required for the continued operation
and function of CERT.
H.Â
The
Coordinator shall promulgate rules and regulations and standard operating
procedures for CERT, subject to the express approval of the Mayor
or his/her designee.
The Deputy Coordinator of Emergency Management shall act as
the Coordinator in the absence or disability of the Coordinator.