[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Pemberton 10-23-2013 by Ord. No. 19-2013. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire Department — See Ch. 25.
Police Department — See Ch. 41.
The following words and phrases, as used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings:
DISASTER
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.
EMERGENCY
Includes "disaster," as defined herein.
LOCAL DISASTER EMERGENCY
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. 
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. 
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. 
Aside from the Coordinator, the LEPC shall include representation from the following groups and organizations, if practicable:
(1) 
Elected and local officials;
(2) 
Law enforcement;
(3) 
Fire service;
(4) 
EMS;
(5) 
Health;
(6) 
Local environmental and transportation agencies;
(7) 
Hospitals;
(8) 
Local media representatives;
(9) 
Community groups;
(10) 
Representatives of facilities subject to the emergency planning and community right-to-know requirements; and
(11) 
Local business leaders.
A. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
Powers and duties. The powers of the Coordinator shall be as follows:
(1) 
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) 
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) 
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) 
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) 
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) 
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) 
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) 
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) 
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) 
Coordinate the recruitment and training of volunteer personnel and agencies in order to augment the emergency personnel and facilities of the Township.
(11) 
Attend schools, seminars and meetings which enhance the overall emergency management structure of the Township.
(12) 
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) 
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) 
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) 
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. 
CERT shall respond to man-made and natural disasters, and other emergencies, as directed by the Coordinator.
B. 
CERT shall be activated by and shall report to the Coordinator, or the Coordinator's designee, as directed.
C. 
CERT may be called upon to assist in large planned community events.
D. 
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. 
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. 
With the express consent of the Coordinator, CERT may use equipment provided by other local jurisdictions.
G. 
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. 
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.