The declared purposes of this chapter are to provide for the
preparation, formulation, implementation and administration of plans
for the protection of persons and property within the city in the
event of public emergency and/or disaster conditions.
(Ord. 1050 § 1, 2012)
As used in this chapter, "state of emergency" means the duly
proclaimed existence of actual or threatened conditions of disaster
or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the
city caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm,
epidemic, riot, earthquake, or other conditions, including conditions
resulting from war or imminent threat of war, which conditions are,
or are likely to be, beyond the control of the services, personnel,
equipment and facilities of the city, requiring combined forces of
other political subdivisions to combat.
(Ord. 1050 § 1, 2012)
The emergency preparedness commission, as established by resolution,
shall advise the city council on matters pertaining to emergency services
planning and emergency preparedness training within the city. The
city council may revise the purposes, powers, and makeup of the emergency
preparedness commission via resolution.
(Ord. 1050 § 1, 2012)
The emergency preparedness committee is created and shall consist
of city employees including the city manager, department heads and
other key management staff as determined by the city manager. Each
member of the emergency preparedness committee shall be provided a
hand-held radio to be kept at home for after hours communication in
the event of a disaster. The emergency preparedness committee's role
is to assist the city manager with preparation for a disaster, the
city's response, and recovery efforts.
(Ord. 1050 § 1, 2012)
The city council shall review, at least every fourteen days
until such local emergency is terminated, the need for continuing
the local emergency and shall proclaim the termination of such local
emergency at the earliest possible date the conditions warrant.
(Ord. 1050 § 1, 2012)
In the event of a declared state of emergency, city hall shall
serve as the emergency operations center for the city, with the Rancho
Mirage public library serving as the alternate location. The city
council or the city manager or designee shall have the authority to
designate another location as the emergency operations center.
(Ord. 1050 § 1, 2012)
During a declared emergency, the city council may promulgate
orders and regulations necessary to provide for the protection of
life and property including orders or regulations imposing a curfew
within designated boundaries where necessary to preserve the public
order and safety. Such orders and regulations shall be in writing
and shall be given widespread publicity and notice.
(Ord. 1050 § 1, 2012)
During the existence of a state of emergency, law and order
must be preserved and insofar as possible government services continued
or restored. This can best be done by civil government. To provide
for the continuance of the legislative branch of the city, each councilmember
shall have the authority to nominate for approval by the full council
three individuals as his or her standbys. Standby officers shall be
designated first, second and third, as the case may be. Their duties
shall be to fill the post to which appointed in the order designated
during a state of emergency when the regular councilmember is unavailable.
The standby councilmember shall serve until the regular councilmember
becomes available.
(Ord. 1050 § 1, 2012)
The city shall not be liable for any claim based upon the exercise
or performance or the failure to exercise or perform a discretionary
function or duty in carrying out the provision of this chapter on
the part of any city employee.
(Ord. 1050 § 1, 2012)
Volunteers duly registered with the city or unregistered persons
duly pressed into service during any declared emergency affecting
the city in carrying out, complying with or attempting to comply with
any order or regulation issued pursuant to the provisions of this
chapter, while performing any of their authorized functions or duties,
shall have the same degree of responsibility for their actions and
enjoy the same immunities as officers and employees of the city.
(Ord. 1050 § 1, 2012)
It is unlawful to willfully obstruct, hinder or delay any city
emergency services.
(Ord. 1050 § 1, 2012)
It is unlawful to wear, carry or display without authority any
means of identification specified by the civil defense and/or disaster
agencies of the federal or state governments.
(Ord. 1050 § 1, 2012)