A.
Emergency management is a necessary function that requires planning, analyzing, conducting and maintaining programs to prepare for and respond to all types of hazards. An "emergency" is defined as any event which threatens to, or actually does, inflict damage to property or persons. Emergencies can range from devastating storms, to hurricanes and floods, to explosions and HAZMAT incidents, to nuclear attack to terrorist activities.
B.
Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 5, issued February 28, 2003, directs the development of a National Incident Management System (NIMS) which provides a consistent nationwide template to enable federal, state, municipal, and local governments and private-sector and nongovernmental organizations to work together effectively and efficiently to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents such as those that might affect Fenwick Island. Recognizing that collective input and guidance, coordinated response and standardized procedures for managing resources are essential to effective emergency management, in May 2006, the Fenwick Island Town Council voted to implement NIMS.
C.
As a function of NIMS, emergency management plans are prepared and kept current by the Emergency Management Team and ratified by Town Council.