[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Harwinton 3-27-2007 by Ord. No. 121, effective 4-13-2007. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The First Selectman or, in his absence or incapacity, the Board of Selectmen, acting pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 28-8a, is authorized to declare a local disaster or emergency when there exist within the Town of Harwinton conditions constituting a "major disaster" or "emergency," as those terms are defined by Connecticut General Statutes § 28-1.
Upon the issuance of such declaration, the First Selectman or, in his absence or incapacity, the Board of Selectmen, in conjunction with the Emergency Management Director, shall exercise all of the powers and authority granted to the municipality and/or its chief executive officer under Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 517, as amended.
Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 517, Governor Rell's Executive Order No. 10 (September 19, 2005), and the Homeland Security Act of 2002, P.L. 107-296, the Town of Harwinton adopts the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as promulgated and revised by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as the standard for incident management within the Town of Harwinton.
Upon the declaration of disaster or emergency, the First Selectman is authorized, in conjunction with the Emergency Management Director, the Chiefs of the Harwinton and Westside Volunteer Fire Departments, the Director of the Harwinton Ambulance, the Highway Supervisor, and the Resident State Trooper(s), to activate the emergency operations center, open one or more emergency shelters, designate evacuation routes and take such action as is necessary to protect public health and safety.