(A) There
exists the office of Emergency Management Director of the city, which
shall be held by the Mayor in accordance with state law.
(B) An Emergency
Management Coordinator may be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure
of, the Director. The Director shall be responsible for a program
of comprehensive emergency management within the city and for carrying
out the duties and responsibilities set forth in this chapter. He
or she may delegate authority however the responsibilities will remain
with the Director.
(C) 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 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.
(Ordinance 2014-1 adopted 3/13/14)
The duties and responsibilities of the Emergency Management
Director shall include the following:
(A) Surveying
actual or potential hazards which threaten life and property within
the city and 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;
(B) Supervision
of the development and approval of an emergency management plan for
the city, and shall recommend for adoption by the City Council all
mutual aid arrangements deemed necessary for the implementation of
such plan;
(C) Authority
to declare a local state of disaster. The declaration may not be continued
or renewed for a period in excess of seven 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;
(D) Issuance
of necessary proclamations, regulations, or directives which are necessary
for carrying out the purposes of this chapter. 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;
(E) Direction
and control of the operations of the city’s Emergency Management
Organization as well as the training of emergency management personnel;
(F) Determination
of all questions of authority and responsibility that may arise within
the Emergency Management Organization of the city;
(G) Maintenance
of liaison with other municipal, county, district, state, regional,
or federal emergency management organizations;
(H) 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;
(I) 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 county-wide
coordination of emergency management efforts;
(J) Supervision
of, and final authorization for, the procurement of all necessary
supplies and equipment including acceptance of private contributions,
which may be offered for the purpose of improving emergency management
within the city;
(K) Authorizing
of agreements, after approval by the City Attorney, for use of private
property for public shelter and other purposes;
(L) Surveying
the availability of existing personnel, equipment, supplies, and services
which could be used during a disaster, as provided for herein; and
(M) Other
requirements as specified in the Texas Disaster Act (Tex. Government
Code, Ch. 418).
(Ordinance 2014-1 adopted 3/13/14)
(A) 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 chapter. As provided by state law, the
plan shall follow the standards and criteria established by the state’s
Division of Emergency Management. Insofar as possible, the form of
organization, titles, and terminology shall conform to the recommendations
of the state’s Division of Emergency Management.
(B) 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 chapter
and have the effect of law during the time of a disaster.
(Ordinance 2014-1 adopted 3/13/14)
The Mayor is hereby authorized to join with the County Judge
and the mayors of the other cities in said county in the formation
of an inter-jurisdictional emergency management program for the county,
and shall have the authority to cooperate in the preparation of an
inter-jurisdictional emergency management plan and in the appointment
of a Joint Emergency Management Coordinator, as well as all powers
necessary to participate in a county-wide program of emergency management
insofar as said program may affect the city.
(Ordinance 2014-1 adopted 3/13/14)
At all times when the orders, rules, and regulations made and
promulgated pursuant to this chapter shall be in effect, they shall
supersede and override all existing ordinances, orders, rules, and
regulations insofar as the latter may be inconsistent therewith.
(Ordinance 2014-1 adopted 3/13/14)
(A) This
chapter 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 said 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 chapter shall be liable
for any damage sustained to persons as the result of said activity.
(B) 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 or natural or human-made disaster shall, together with his
or her 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.
(Ordinance 2014-1 adopted 3/13/14)
No person shall have the right to expend any public funds of
the city in carrying out any emergency management activity authorized
by this chapter 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.
(Ordinance 2014-1 adopted 3/13/14)
Each of the emergency action plans developed for said dams and
roadways be adopted.
(Ordinance 2011-11 adopted 2/12/11)
(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 chapter.
(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.
Convictions for violations of the provisions of this chapter shall
be punishable by fine not to exceed $500.
(Ordinance 2014-1 adopted 3/13/14)