(a) A “State of Emergency” may be proclaimed when there is a tumult, riot, mob or body of people acting together with the intent to commit a felony or to do or offer violence to any person or property, or by force and violence to break or resist the law, or in the event of a flood, fire, snowstorm or any other disaster affecting life and property and which substantially impairs the functioning of the City government and its ability to protect the lives and property of the people.
(1) The Mayor, the President of Council, the Chief of Police acting in the order herein designated when the previously named officer or officers are absent from the City or are unavailable or incapable of so doing, are authorized to proclaim the existence of a State of Emergency in the City or within any prescribed area thereof.
(2) A “State of Emergency” and Executive Orders issued thereunder may, at anytime, be rescinded by Council ordinance or resolution.
(b) When a State of Emergency has been proclaimed as provided in subsection (a) hereof, any of the officers named therein, acting in accordance therewith, is authorized to issue such Executive Orders as is deemed necessary to protect life and property. Such Executive Orders may include, but are not limited to suspension of local ordinances and regulations, the establishment of a curfew; prohibiting the sale of beer or intoxicating liquor; prohibiting the sale of firearms; restricting or prohibiting movement into, out of or within the affected area; or prohibiting or limiting the assemblage of persons.
(c) No person shall fail to obey the lawful order of any Bexley, local, county, state law enforcement officer; activated National Guard member; fire or rescue personnel, or other authorized person specifically named in the “State of Emergency” proclamation, and no person shall in any way intentionally interfere with any such afore-mentioned person(s) in the protection or preservation of life or property during the existence of a State of Emergency proclaimed as provided in subsection (a) and (b) hereof.
(d) Whoever violates any proclamation issued in accordance with subsection (a), (b) or (c) hereof, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. Punishment shall be as provided in Section 698.02.
(Ord. 19-68. Passed 5-24-68; Ord. 36-20. Passed 3-9-21.)