Nothing in this article shall be construed to:
A. Interfere with the course or conduct of a private labor dispute,
except that actions otherwise authorized by this article or other
laws may be taken when necessary to forestall or mitigate imminent
or existing danger to public health or safety.
B. Interfere with dissemination of news or comment of public affairs;
but any communications facility or organization (including, but not
limited to, radio and television stations, wire services, and newspapers)
may be requested to transmit or print public service messages furnishing
information or instructions in connection with a disaster.
C. Affect the jurisdiction or responsibilities of police forces, fire-fighting
forces, units of the armed forces of the United States, or of any
personnel thereof, when on active duty; but state and local emergency
operations plans shall place reliance upon the forces available for
performance of functions related to disaster emergencies.
D. Limit, modify, or abridge the authority of the President and the
Village Board to exercise any other powers vested in them under the
Constitution, statutes, or common law of this state, independent of
or in conjunction with any provisions of this article.
As used in this article, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise, the following words and terms shall have the definitions
hereinafter ascribed:
COORDINATOR
The person appointed as provided for herein who shall have
the duty of carrying out the requirements of this article.
DISASTER or EMERGENCY
An occurrence or threat of widespread or severe damage, injury
or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or man-made
cause, including, but not limited to, fire, flood, earthquake, wind,
storm, hazardous materials spill or other water contamination requiring
emergency action to avert danger or damage, epidemic, famine, air
contamination, blight, extended periods of severe and inclement weather,
drought, infestation, explosion, critical shortages of food, medical
supplies, potable water, essential fuels and energy, riot or hostile
military or paramilitary action. As used herein, "disaster" and "emergency"
shall have the same meaning and shall be interchangeable.
DISASTER OPERATIONS or EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
The functions created in accordance with the provisions of
this article to be performed by the Village in cooperation with other
political subdivisions to alleviate the effects of a disaster or emergency.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
The efforts of the Village to develop, plan, analyze, conduct,
implement and maintain programs for disaster or emergency mitigation.
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
The written plan of the Village describing the organization,
mission and functions of the government and supporting services for
responding to and recovery from disasters or emergencies.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
The preparation for and the carrying out of such functions,
other than functions for which military forces are primarily responsible,
as may be necessary or proper to prevent, minimize, repair and alleviate
injury and damage resulting from disasters caused by fire, flood,
earthquake, or other man-made or natural causes. These functions include,
without limitation, fire-fighting services, police services, emergency
aviation services, medical and health services, rescue, engineering,
warning services, communications, radiological, chemical and other
special weapons defense, evacuation of persons from stricken areas,
emergency assigned functions of plant protection, temporary restoration
of public utility services and other functions related to civilian
protection, together with all other activities necessary or incidental
to protecting life and property.
The testing of any disaster warning devices utilized by the
Village of Homer Glen, including outdoor warning sirens, shall be
held only on the first Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m.
The Coordinator may, in collaboration with other public agencies within the immediate vicinity, develop or cause to be developed mutual aid arrangements with other political subdivisions, municipal corporations or bodies politic within this state (or with other states or political subdivisions of other states to the extent permitted by law) for reciprocal disaster response and recovery in case a disaster is too great to be dealt with unassisted. The mutual aid shall not, however, be effective unless and until approved by the Village Board and by each of the other political subdivisions, municipal corporations or bodies politic as are parties thereto, in the manner provided by law, and unless and until filed with and approved in writing by the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. Such arrangements shall be consistent with the Illinois and Village of Homer Glen Emergency Operations Plan, and in the event of such a disaster as described in §
27-3 of this article, it shall be the duty of each local, state or federal department for emergency services and disaster operations to render assistance in accordance with the provisions of such mutual aid arrangements.
The Village of Homer Glen Emergency Management Agency shall
ascertain what means exist for rapid and efficient communications
in times of disaster emergencies, and shall consider the desirability
of supplementing these communications resources or of integrating
them into a comprehensive system or network. In studying the character
and feasibility of any system or its several parts, the agency shall
evaluate the possibility of multipurpose use thereof for general municipal
and local governmental purposes. The agency shall make recommendations
to the President as appropriate.
To the fullest extent allowed by applicable law, neither the
Village, the Agency or any member thereof or any person acting at
its direction, engaged in any emergency services and disaster operations
or disaster activities, while complying with or attempting to comply
with this article or any rule or regulations promulgated pursuant
to this article, is liable for the death of or any injury to persons,
or damage to property, as a result of such activity. This section
does not, however, affect the right of any person to receive benefits
to which he or she would otherwise be entitled under this article,
under the Worker's Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305/1 et seq.) or the
Worker's Occupational Diseases Act (820 ILCS 310/1 et seq.), or under
any pension law, and this section does not affect the right of any
such person to receive any benefits or compensation under any Act
of Congress.
If such a disaster as is described in §
27-3 occurs in the Village and the services of persons who are competent to practice any profession, trade or occupation are required in the Village to cope with the disaster and it appears that the number of persons licensed or registered in the Village to practice such profession, trade or occupation may be insufficient for such purpose, then any persons who are licensed elsewhere to practice any such profession, trade or occupation may practice such profession, trade or occupation in the Village without being licensed or registered in the Village during such disaster.
The Village Board may make appropriations for emergency services
and disaster operations in the manner provided by law for making appropriations
for the ordinary expenses of such political subdivision.
Whenever the federal or state governments, or any agency or
officer thereof, or whenever any person, firm or corporation shall
offer to the Village services, equipment, supplies, materials or funds
by way of gift or grant for purposes of emergency management, the
Village, acting through the President or through the Village Board,
may accept such offer; and upon such acceptance the President or the
Village Board may authorize any officer of the Village to receive
such services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds on behalf
of the Village.
In carrying out the provisions of this article, the President
and the Coordinator of the Emergency Management Agency are directed
to utilize the services, equipment, supplies and facilities of existing
departments, offices and agencies of the Village to the maximum extent
practicable, and the officers and personnel of all such departments,
offices and agencies are directed, upon request, to cooperate with
and extend such services and facilities to the Coordinator and the
Emergency Management Agency.
The Village Board, by its annual appropriations ordinance, may
provide for the payment of the salary of the Coordinator and such
other office staff and personnel as may be expressly provided for
in the ordinance. Nothing herein contained shall prohibit any member
of the agency from receiving compensation from the State of Illinois
Emergency Management Agency.
Each person, whether compensated or uncompensated, who is appointed
to serve in any capacity in a department of the Village of Homer Glen
Emergency Management Agency, shall, before entering upon his or her
duties, take an oath.
Any person convicted of violating this article or any order
issued thereunder shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000.