There exists the office of emergency management director of the City of North Richland Hills, which shall be held by the mayor in accordance with state law.
(1) 
An emergency management coordinator may be designated by the director. The emergency management coordinator shall serve as an assistant to the director for emergency management purposes. The emergency management coordinator will be assigned and supervised as directed by the city manager to maintain effective continuity of government.
(2) 
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 article. He/she may delegate authority for execution; responsibility shall remain with the director.
(3) 
The operational emergency management organization of the City of North Richland Hills 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 2771, § 1, adopted 3/11/2004; Ordinance 2952, § 1, adopted 9/24/2007)
(a) 
The duties and responsibilities of the emergency management director shall include the following:
(1) 
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.
(2) 
Issuance of necessary proclamations, regulations, or directives which are necessary for carrying out the purposes of this article. 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.
(3) 
Determination of all questions of authority and responsibility that may arise within the emergency management organization of the city.
(4) 
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.
(5) 
Authorizing of agreements, after approval by the city attorney, for use of private property for public shelter and other purposes.
(6) 
Other requirements as specified in the Texas Disaster Act (V.T.C.A., Government Code ch. 418).
(b) 
The following duties shall be delegated by the emergency management director to the emergency management coordinator:
(1) 
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.
(2) 
Supervision of the development and approval of an emergency management plan for the City of North Richland Hills, and shall recommend for adoption by the city council all mutual aid arrangements deemed necessary for the implementation of such plan.
(3) 
Direction and control of the operations of the North Richland Hills Emergency Management organization as well as the training of emergency management personnel.
(4) 
Maintenance of liaison with other municipal, county, district, state, regional or federal emergency management organizations.
(5) 
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.
(6) 
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 A2-3 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.
(7) 
Surveying the availability of existing personnel, equipment, supplies, and services which could be used during a disaster, as provided for herein.
(Ordinance 2771, § 1, adopted 3/11/2004; Ordinance 2952, § 1, adopted 9/24/2007)
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 article. As provided by state law, the plan shall follow the standards and criteria established by the state division of emergency management. Insofar as possible, the form of organization, titles, and terminology shall conform to the recommendations of 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 article and have the effect of law during the time of a disaster.
(Ordinance 2771, § 1, adopted 3/11/2004)
The emergency management director is hereby authorized to join with the county judge and the mayors of the other cities in the 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 countywide program of emergency management insofar as said program may affect the city.
(Ordinance 2771, § 1, adopted 3/11/2004)
At all times when the orders, rules, and regulations made and promulgated pursuant to this article 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 2771, § 1, adopted 3/11/2004)
This article 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 article, 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 or natural or man-made disaster 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.
(Ordinance 2771, § 1, adopted 3/11/2004)
No person shall have the right to expend any public funds of the city in carrying out any emergency management activity authorized by this article without prior approval by the city council, city manager, or the emergency management coordinator, 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, city manager, or the emergency management coordinator unless during a declared disaster. During a declared disaster, the mayor, city manager or the emergency management coordinator may expend and/or commit public funds of the city when deemed prudent and necessary for the protection of health, life or property.
(Ordinance 2771, § 1, adopted 3/11/2004)
(a) 
Obstruction of member of emergency management organization.
It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully obstruct, hinder, or delay any member of the emergency management organization in the enforcement of any rule or regulation issued pursuant to this article.
(b) 
Using emblems, insignia or identification of emergency management organization.
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.
(Ordinance 2771, § 1, adopted 3/11/2004)