[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
Franconia 12-12-1988 by Ord. No. 151. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
A direct or indirect assault against the Township of Franconia, its
government, its environs or of the nation by the forces of a hostile nation
or the agents thereof, including but not limited to assault by bombings, radiological,
chemical or biological means or sabotage.
COORDINATOR
The Emergency Management Coordinator of the Emergency Management
Agency of the Township of Franconia.
The assistant to the Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Township
Board of Supervisors and be responsible for carrying out the duties of the
Coordinator in his absence.
Actual or threatened attack, natural disaster, extraordinary fire,
epidemic, evacuations or any other pending or actual emergency or calamity
which endangers or threatens to endanger the health, safety, life or property
of the residents of the township or endangers or threatens the constituted
government of the nation or state.
To carry out the basic government functions of maintaining the public
peace, health and safety, including plans and preparations for protection
from and relief, recovery and rehabilitation from the effect of an attack
on the township and such activity in connection with a disaster as defined
herein.
The employees, equipment and facilities of all township departments,
boards, institutions and commissions and all volunteer personnel, equipment
and facilities contributed by or obtained from volunteer persons or agencies.
Any person duly enrolled, identified and appointed by the Coordinator
and assigned to participate in Emergency Management Agency activities.
Any individual, firm, corporation, association or partnership, including
the plural as well as the singular and both genders.
The plans, programs and emergency procedures established by the Emergency
Management Agency which are deemed essential to an adequate program.
A person contributing a service, equipment or facilities to the Emergency
Management Agency without remuneration.
The purpose of this chapter shall be:
A.Â
To establish an Emergency Management Agency that will
be responsible for the complete and efficient utilization of all township
facilities to safeguard and protect life and property within the Township
of Franconia during a state of war, a local emergency or disaster.
B.Â
To establish the Emergency Management Agency and its
attendant responsibilities, duties and powers, including but not limited to
provisions for the promulgation of a basic emergency management plan with
necessary lines of succession.
C.Â
To establish the Emergency Management Coordinator and
his attendant responsibilities, duties and powers as Coordinator of the Emergency
Management Agency.
D.Â
To provide for the promulgation of emergency management
regulations, enforcement and penalties.
A.Â
There is hereby created an Emergency Management Agency
for the Township of Franconia. The Emergency Management Agency shall consist
of a Coordinator, to be known as the "Emergency Management Coordinator," who
shall be selected by the Township Board of Supervisors and appointed by the
Governor of Pennsylvania, a Deputy Coordinator, one resident from the general
public, the Roadmaster, the Chief of Police and the Township Manager. The
members of the Emergency Management Agency shall serve at the pleasure of
the Township Board of Supervisors for five year terms. The members of the
Emergency Management Agency shall serve without compensation.[1]
B.Â
The Emergency Management Coordinator shall be professionally
competent and capable of planning, effecting coordination among various departments
and generally controlling coordinated operations by emergency-preparedness
forces.
C.Â
The employees, equipment and facilities of all township
departments, boards, institutions and commissions will be at the disposal
of the Emergency Management Agency and will participate as directed by the
Coordinator with the approval of the Township Board of Supervisors/Manager;
provided, however, that duties assigned to the various departments shall be
the same or similar to the normal activities of said department.
Subject to the direction and control of the Township Board of Supervisors,
the Emergency Management Agency shall have the following powers and duties:
A.Â
Prepare, maintain and keep current a disaster emergency
management plan for the prevention and minimization of injury and damage caused
by disaster, prompt and effective response to disaster and disaster emergency
relief and recovery in consonance with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management
Plan.
B.Â
Make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for
the establishment and equipping of an operations center within the Township
Municipal Building.
C.Â
Provide individual and organizational training programs
to ensure prompt, efficient and effective disaster emergency services.
D.Â
Organize, prepare and coordinate all locally available
manpower, materials, supplies, equipment, facilities and services necessary
for disaster emergency readiness, response and recovery.
E.Â
Adopt and implement precautionary measures to mitigate
the anticipated effects of disaster.
F.Â
Recommend to the Township Board of Supervisors or its
designated alternate all necessary rules and regulations for the implementation
of the basic plan and all other rules and regulations necessary for the protection
of the township and its inhabitants in case of disaster or declared emergency.
G.Â
Cooperate and coordinate with any public and private
agency or entity in achieving any purpose of this part.
H.Â
Have available for inspection at its emergency operations
center all emergency management plans, rules and orders of the Governor and
the Agency.
I.Â
Provide prompt and accurate information regarding local
disaster emergencies to appropriate commonwealth and local officials and agencies
and the general public.
J.Â
Participate in all tests, drills and exercises, including
remedial drills and exercises, scheduled by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management
Agency or by the federal government.
K.Â
Participate in the program of integrated flood warning
systems implemented by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
L.Â
Develop mutual aid agreements with adjacent political
subdivisions for reciprocal emergency assistance.
Subject to the direction and control of the Township Board of Supervisors,
the Emergency Management Coordinator shall have the following powers and duties:
A.Â
Maintain the in-service qualifications prescribed by
the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
B.Â
Prepare, maintain and keep current a disaster emergency
operations plan for the prevention and minimization of injury and damage caused
by a major emergency or disaster, prompt and effective response to a major
emergency or disaster and emergency relief and recovery in consonance with
the Montgomery County emergency operations plan.
C.Â
Initiate and maintain coordination and cooperation with
the County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and provide prompt information
as requested.
D.Â
Identify hazards that may affect the municipality. In
coordination with the County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), and based
upon its hazards vulnerability analysis, determine what hazards could potentially
impact upon the township.
E.Â
Identify resources within the municipality that can be
used to respond in a major emergency or disaster situation and report unmet
needs. This should include both public and private resources and mass-care
facilities.
F.Â
Develop and maintain an emergency management organization
and a trained staff appropriate for the needs and resources of Franconia Township,
including a functional organization chart. The staff must be capable of maintaining
twenty-four-hour operations.
G.Â
Mobilize, direct and coordinate the emergency management
staff during an emergency.
H.Â
Develop standard operating procedures (SOP) in coordination
with the staff to carry out its responsibilities and functions and the functions
of the emergency operations center.
I.Â
Make reports to the Township Board of Supervisors as
required.
No purchase or purchases shall be made, no contract entered into and
no expenses incurred by the Emergency Management Agency which involve the
payment of more than $25 per occurrence without prior consent of the Township
Manager or the Board of Supervisors.
A.Â
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any of
the provisions of this chapter or of the regulations or plans issued pursuant
to the authority contained herein or to willfully obstruct, hinder or delay
any member of the Emergency Management Agency as herein defined in the enforcement
of the provisions of this chapter or any regulations, plan or order issued
hereunder.
B.Â
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this
chapter shall, upon being liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding
commenced by the township, pay a fine not exceeding $600 plus all court costs,
including reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the township. No judgment
shall be imposed until the date of the determination of violation by the District
Justice. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the
township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable Pennsylvania
Rules of Civil Procedure.
[Amended 6-10-1996
by Ord. No. 237]
