[1]
Editor's Note : Adopted as a new Chapter 28 of the Code of
Ordinances of Newtown Township but codified here in accordance with
the scheme of the codification.
[Ord. 98-O-3, 1/28/1998, § 1]
The following words and phrases when used in this Part shall
have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the meanings
given to them in this section.
A man-made disaster, natural disaster or war caused disaster.
Those conditions which may by investigation made, be found,
actually or likely to:
Affect Safety. Affect seriously the safety, health or welfare
of a substantial number of citizens of this Township or preclude the
operation or use of essential public facilities.
Required State Assistance. Be of such magnitude or severity
as to render essential State supplementation of County and local efforts
or resources exerted or utilized in alleviating the danger, damage,
suffering or hardship faced.
Have Causes Not Covered By Law. Have been caused by forces beyond
the control of man, by reason of civil disorder, riot or disturbance,
or by factors not foreseen and not known to exist when appropriation
bills were enacted.
The judicious planning, assignment or coordination of all
resources in an integrated program of prevention, mitigation, preparedness,
response and recovery for emergencies of any kind, whether from attack,
man-made or natural sources.
The preparation for and the carrying out of functions other
than functions for which military forces are primarily responsible,
to prevent, minimize and provide emergency repair of injured and damaged
resulting from disasters, together with all other activities necessary
or incidental to the preparation for the carrying out of those functions.
The functions include, without limitation, fire-fighting services,
police services, medical and health services, rescue, engineering,
disaster warning services, communications, radiological, shelter,
chemical and other special weapons defense, evacuation of persons
from stricken areas, emergency welfare services, emergency transportation,
emergency resources management, exiting or properly assigning functions
of plan protection, temporary restoration of public utility services
and other functions related to civilian protection.
The conditions declared by the local governing body when
in their judgment the threat or actual occurrence of a disaster is
or threatens to be of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant
coordinated local government action to prevent or alleviate the damage,
loss, hardship or suffering threatened or caused thereby. A local
emergency arising wholly or substantially out of a resource shortage
may be declared only by the governor, upon petition of the local governing
body, when he deems the threat or actual occurrence of a disaster
to be of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant coordinated
local government action to prevent or alleviate damage, loss, hardship
or suffering threatened or caused thereby.
A local emergency management organization.
Any industrial, nuclear or transportation accident, explosion,
conflagration, power failure, natural resource shortages or other
conditions except enemy action, resulting from man-made causes, such
as oil spills and other injurious environmental contamination, which
threatens or causes substantial damage to property, human suffering,
hardship or loss of life.
Any hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high water, wind driven
water, tidal wave, earthquake, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, drought,
fire, explosion or other catastrophe which results in substantial
damage to property, hardship, suffering or possible loss of life.
Any condition following an attack upon the United States
resulting in substantial damage to property or injury to persons in
the United States caused by use of bombs, missiles, shellfire, nuclear
radiological, chemical or biological means, or other weapons or overt
paramilitary actions, or conditions such as sabotage.
[Ord. 98-O-3, 1/28/1998, § 1]
A local emergency management organization is hereby established
and shall be known as the "Newtown Township Emergency Management Organization."
[Ord. 98-O-3, 1/28/1998, § 1]
The Newtown Township Emergency Management Organization is established
pursuant to the provisions of the Emergency Management Services Code
(35 Pa.C.S.A. § 7501 et seq.).
[Ord. 98-O-3, 1/28/1998, § 1]
The Newtown Township Emergency Management Organization shall
have the responsibility for emergency management and disaster response
and recovery within Newtown Township. The Newtown Township Emergency
Management Organization shall also provide emergency management and
disaster and recovery services outside the Township of Newtown as
required by the terms and conditions of this Part.
[Ord. 98-O-3, 1/28/1998, § 1]
1.
A local
disaster may be declared by Newtown Township Board of Supervisors
upon finding a disaster has occurred or in imminent. The Newtown Township
Board of Supervisors hereby authorize one or more officials of the
Township as set forth hereafter to declare a local disaster emergency
subject to ratification by the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors.
Such authorization to declare a local disaster may be granted in descending
order or rank, depending upon the availability of said officers. The
declaration of local disaster emergency shall be ratified by the Board
of Supervisors except where it is determined a duly authorized official
has grossly abused his/her discretion in declaring a local emergency
or the circumstances warranting the declaration of a local disaster.
The succession of authority to declare a local disaster emergency
shall be as follows:
A.
Chairman
of Board of Supervisors.
B.
Vice Chairman
of Board of Supervisors.
C.
Secretary
of Board of Supervisors.
D.
Most senior
member of Board of Supervisors (excluding Chairman, Vice Chairman
and Secretary).
E.
Least
senior member of Board of Supervisors (excluding Chairman, Vice Chairman
and Secretary).
F.
Township
Manager.
G.
Emergency
Management Coordinator.
[Ord. 98-O-3, 1/28/1998, § 1]
Upon declaration of a disaster emergency, the Township of Newtown,
pursuant to 7301 of the Emergency Management Services Code, shall
be authorized to exercise the powers granted in this Part without
regard to time consuming procedures and formalities prescribed by
law (except mandatory constitutional requirements) pertaining to the
performance of public works, 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.
[Ord. 98-O-3, 1/28/1998, § 1]
1.
The Newtown Township Emergency Management Organization shall have
a Coordinator who shall be responsible for the planning, administration
and operation of the organization subject to the direction and control
of the Board of Supervisors of Newtown Township.
2.
The Coordinator of the Newtown Township Emergency Management Organization
shall be appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
upon recommendation of the Board of Supervisors of Newtown Township.
The Newtown Township Emergency Management Coordinator shall serve
at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors of Newtown Township.
3.
The Coordinator of Newtown Township Emergency Management Organization
shall:
A.
Be professionally competent and capable of planning, effecting and
coordinating operations among agencies of government and controlling
coordinated operations by local emergency preparedness forces.
B.
Attend and successfully complete the first phase of the career development
program as prescribed by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
within one year after appointment.
C.
Attend and successfully complete the second phase of the career development
program as prescribed by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
within three years after appointment.
D.
Attend basic and advanced seminars, workshops and training conferences
called by the Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
and/or its Director of Training and Education.
4.
The Township of Newtown will reimburse its coordinator for actual
expenses incurred as the result of his/her attendance at scheduled
meetings and training programs.
[Ord. 98-O-3, 1/28/1998, § 1]
1.
The Newtown Township Emergency Management Organization is hereby
directed to:
A.
Prepare, maintain and keep current a disaster emergency plan for
the Township of Newtown for the prevention and minimization 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 the Bucks County
Emergency Management Plan.
B.
Establish, equip and staff an emergency operations center for the
Township of Newtown.
C.
Establish a warning and communications system for the Township of
Newtown 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 Part.
E.
Provide individual and organizational training programs to insure
prompt, efficient and effective disaster emergency services.
F.
Organize, prepare, administer and coordinate all locally available
manpower, materials, supplies, equipment, 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 Newtown
Township Emergency Management Organization may establish pursuant
to the provisions of this Part.
I.
Cooperate and coordinate with any public and private agencies or
entities in achieving any purpose of this Part.
J.
Have available for inspection at the Newtown Township Municipal Building
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.
Provide prompt and general publicity to any order or proclamation
declaring, continuing or terminating a local disaster emergency. Notice
of such orders or proclamation shall be promptly filed with the Pennsylvania
Emergency Management Agency.
M.
Execute and enforce such rules and order as may be adopted by the
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
N.
Made timely recommendations to and secure the consent of the Township
of Newtown 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 the Township of Newtown that are particularly
vulnerable to disaster.
P.
Assist the Township of Newtown and/or its police, fire, rescue or
emergency medical services in handling and coordinating special, nondisaster
emergencies and situations if in the judgment of the Emergency Management
Coordinator such assistance is required.
Q.
Generally be responsible for the planning, administration and operation
of the local emergency management organization.
[Ord. 98-O-3, 1/28/1998, § 1]
The local coordinators of the emergency management shall develop
mutual aid agreements for reciprocal emergency assistance. Any mutual
aid agreement shall be approved by the Board of Supervisors prior
to implementation.
[Ord. 98-O-3, 1/28/1998, § 1]
1.
Except during local disaster emergencies, the Board of Supervisors
of Newtown Township shall:
[Ord. 98-O-3, 1/28/1998, § 1]
The Newtown Township Emergency Management Organization may,
with the approval of the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Newtown,
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.
[Ord. 98-O-3, 1/28/1998, § 1]
The provisions of the Emergency Management Services Code of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Act 1978-3233 (P.L. 1332) shall
govern the emergency management activities of Newtown Township and
the Newtown Township Emergency Management Organization except in circumstances
where the Emergency Management Services Code does not address local
provisions or conditions provided for by this Part.
