Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
24 <br /> Elected Official's Guide to Emergencies and Disasters <br /> Emergency Declarations <br /> Local government has direct responsibility for the safety of its residents. Orange County <br /> Emergency Services (OCES) is responsible for coordinating emergency management <br /> activities inside Orange County and is recognized by the state through North Carolina <br /> Emergency Management. State government has additional legal responsibilities for <br /> emergency response and recovery. The Federal government also has legal authority in <br /> some instances, and is a source of fiscal resources, as well as specialized personnel and <br /> equipment if local need is greater than locally available resources. <br /> Specific areas of authority and responsibilities for Emergency Management agencies are <br /> clearly stated in state law and local ordinances. These laws provide for a specific line of <br /> succession for elected officials to ensure continuity of government and leadership during <br /> an emergency (Sec. 14-41) and are as follows: the Chair of the Board of Commissioners, <br /> the Vice-Chair, the County Manager, the Deputy County Manager, the Emergency <br /> Services Director, and the Division Chief of Emergency Management. The Emergency <br /> Services Director or their designee also has the authority to evacuate the county when <br /> immediacy of necessary action precludes contact with the Chair. The Orange County <br /> Attorney's Office will provide legal guidance as needed throughout the process. <br /> It may be more prudent to err on the side of caution when declaring a state of emergency <br /> as it can be cancelled if the situation is determined not to warrant a declaration. Declaring <br /> early can save valuable time, should you need to eventually seek a federal declaration of <br /> a state of emergency. <br /> It is also important to remember to officially terminate a state of emergency when the <br /> disaster is over and the situation is once more under control. All points of the declaration <br /> remain in effect until it is officially terminated. An example of Orange County's <br /> proclamation of a state of emergency can be found in Appendix I. <br /> Declaring a State of Emergency <br /> State of emergency defined: (G.S. 14-288) Condition that exists whenever, during times <br /> of public crisis, disaster, rioting, catastrophe, or similar public emergency, public safety <br /> authorities are unable to maintain public order or afford adequate protection for lives or <br /> property, or whenever the occurrence of any such event is imminent. <br /> Who can declare: Governor, mayor, municipal official, chair of the board of <br /> commissioners or county official, any chief executive official or military commanding <br /> "acting under the authority of any other applicable statute or provision of the common law <br /> to preserve the public peace in a state-of-emergency." <br /> What it means: Activates local ordinances and any and all applicable local plans, mutual <br /> assistance compacts, and agreements. It also authorizes the furnishing of assistance. <br /> Local ordinances may restrict or prohibit movement of people in public places; operation <br /> of businesses; possession, transportation, sale, purchase, and consumption of alcoholic <br /> 21 1 <br />