There exists the office of emergency management director of the city, which shall be held by the mayor in accordance with state law.
(1) 
An emergency management coordinator may be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the director.
(2) 
The director shall be responsible for the program of comprehensive emergency management within the city and carrying out the duties and responsibilities set forth in this division. He/she may delegate authority for execution of these duties, but ultimate responsibility for such execution shall remain with the director.
(3) 
The operational emergency management organization of the city shall consist of the officers and employees of the city so designated by the director in the emergency management plan, as well as all organized volunteer groups. The functions and duties of this organization shall be distributed among such officers and employees in accordance with the terms of the emergency management plan.
(1995 Code, sec. 1.1801)
The duties and responsibilities of the emergency management director shall include the following:
(1) 
Surveying of actual or potential major hazards which threaten life and property within the city; and an on-going program of identifying and requiring or recommending the implementation of measures which would tend to prevent the occurrence or reduce the impact of such hazards if a disaster did occur.
(2) 
Supervision of the development of an emergency management plan for the city, and he/she shall recommend that plan for adoption by the city council along with any and all mutual aid plans and agreements which are deemed essential for the implementation of such emergency management plan.
(3) 
Authority to declare a state of disaster. The declaration may not be continued or renewed for a period in excess of 7 days except by or with the consent of the city council. Any order or proclamation declaring, continuing, or terminating a local state of disaster shall be given prompt and general publicity and shall be filed promptly with the city secretary.
(4) 
Issuance of necessary proclamations, regulations, or directors which are necessary for carrying out the purposes of this division, such proclamations, regulations, or directives shall be disseminated promptly by means calculated to bring its contents to the attention of the general public and, unless circumstances attendant on the disaster prevent or impede, promptly filed with the city secretary.
(5) 
Direction and control of the operators of the city emergency management organizations as well as the training of emergency management personnel.
(6) 
Determination of all questions of authority and responsibility that may arise within the emergency management organization of the city.
(7) 
Maintenance of necessary liaison with other municipal, county, district, state, regional, federal, or other emergency management organization.
(8) 
Marshaling of all necessary personnel, equipment or supplies from any department of the city to aid in the carrying out of the provisions of the emergency management plan.
(9) 
Supervision of the drafting and execution of mutual aid agreements, in cooperation with the representatives of the state and of other local political subdivisions of the state, and the drafting and execution, if deemed desirable, of an agreement with the county in which said city is located and with other municipalities within the county for the countywide coordination of emergency management efforts.
(10) 
Supervision of, and final authorization for the procurement of all necessary supplies and equipment, including acceptance of private contribution which may be offered for the purpose of improving emergency management within the city.
(11) 
Authorizing of agreements, after approval by the city attorney, for use of private property for public shelter and other purposes.
(12) 
Surveying the availability of existing personnel, equipment, supplies, and services which could be used during a disaster, as provided for herein.
(13) 
Other requirements as specified in the Texas Disaster Act (chapter 418 of the Government Code).
(1995 Code, sec. 1.1802)
A comprehensive emergency management plan shall be developed and maintained in a current state. The plan shall set forth the form of the organization; establish and designate divisions and functions; assign responsibilities, tasks, duties, and powers; and designate officers and employees to carry out the provisions of this division. As provided by state law, the plan shall follow the standards and criteria established by the state division of emergency management. When approved, it shall be the duty of all 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 emergency management plan shall be considered supplementary to this division and have the effect of law during the time of the disaster.
(1995 Code, sec. 1.1803)
The mayor is hereby authorized to join with the county judge and the mayors of all other cities in the county in the formation of an interjurisdictional emergency management program for the county, and shall have the authority to cooperate in the preparation of the interjurisdictional emergency management plan and in the appointment of a joint emergency management coordinator, as management insofar as said program may affect the city.
(1995 Code, sec. 1.1804)
At all times when the orders, rules, and regulations made and promulgated pursuant to this division shall be in effect, they shall supersede and override all existing ordinances, orders, rules, and regulations insofar as the latter may be inconsistent therewith.
(1995 Code, sec. 1.1805)
This division is an exercise by the city of its governmental functions for the protection of the public peace, health, and safety and neither the city, the agents and representatives of the city, nor any individual, receiver, firm, partnership, corporation, association, or trustee, nor any of the agents thereof, in good faith carrying out, complying with or attempting to comply with, any order, rule, or regulation promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this division shall be liable for any damage sustained to persons as the result of said activity. Any person owning or controlling real estate or other premises who voluntarily and without compensation grants to the city a license of privilege, or otherwise permits the city to inspect, designate and use the whole or any part or parts of such real estate or premises for the purpose of sheltering persons during an actual, impending or practice enemy attack shall, together with his successors in interest, if any, not be civilly liable for the death of, or injury to, any person on or about such real estate or premises under such license, privilege or other permission or for loss of, or damage to, the property of such person.
(1995 Code, sec. 1.1806)
No person shall have the right to expend any public funds of the city in carrying out any emergency management activity authorized by this division without prior approval by the city council, nor shall any person have any right to bind the city by contract, agreement or otherwise, without prior and specific approval of the city council unless during a declared disaster. During a declared disaster, the mayor may expend and/or commit public funds of the city when deemed prudent and necessary for the protection of health, life, or property.
(1995 Code, sec. 1.1807)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person willfully to obstruct, hinder, or delay any member of the emergency management organization in the enforcement of any rule or regulation issued pursuant to this division.
(b) 
It shall likewise be unlawful for any person to wear, carry or display any emblem, insignia or any other means of identification as a member of the emergency management organization of the city, unless authority to do so has been granted to such person by the proper officials.
(c) 
Convictions for violations of the provisions of this division shall be punishable by fine in accordance with section 1.01.009 of this code.
(1995 Code, sec. 1.1808; Ordinance adopting Code)
The city adopted the National Incident Management System (NIMS) dated March 1, 2004, as the standard for incident management in the city.
(1995 Code, sec. 1.1701)