For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates, or requires, a different meaning.
EMERGENCY. Any occasion or instance for which, in the determination of the President of the United States or the Governor of the state, federal or state assistance is needed to supplement state and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the state.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. The preparation for, and the coordination of, all emergency functions by organized and trained persons, who will extend existent governmental functions and provide other necessary non-governmental functions, to prevent, minimize, and repair injury and damage resulting from natural or human-made disasters developing to such an extent to cause an extreme emergency situation to arise which, by declaration of the Governor, jeopardizes the welfare of the citizens of the state. These emergency functions include, but are not limited to, firefighting, law enforcement, medical and health, search and rescue, public works, warnings, communications, hazardous materials and other special response functions, evacuations of persons from affected areas, emergency assistance services, emergency transportation, and other functions related to preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN. The plan which sets forth the organization, administration, and functions for emergency management by the state or local government.
HAZARD MITIGATION. Any cost-effective measure which will reduce or eliminate the effects of a natural or human-made disaster.
HUMAN-MADE DISASTER. A disaster caused by acts of humans including, but not limited to, an act of war, terrorism, chemical spill or release, or power shortages that requires assistance from outside the local political subdivision.
LOCAL ORGANIZATION FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. An organization created in accordance with the provisions of the Oklahoma Emergency Management Act of 2003, being 63 O.S. §§ 683.1 et seq., by state or local authority to perform local emergency management functions.
NATURAL DISASTER. Any natural catastrophe, including, but not limited to, a tornado, severe storm, high water, floodwaters, wind-driven water, earthquake, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, or drought which causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant hazard mitigation or the use of resources of the federal government, or the state and political subdivisions thereof to alleviate the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering caused thereby.
POLITICAL SUBDIVISION. Any county, city, town, or municipal corporation of the state represented by an elected governing body.
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS. All hazardous material releases of any size and type, earthquakes, fires involving large buildings or facilities and large grass or wild fires, explosions, bomb threats, terrorist/civil disturbance, aircraft crash, natural disaster, utility disruption, dam breach, technological/human-made incident, search and rescue, structural collapse, and any other incident that poses significant consequences to the jurisdiction.
(Prior Code, § 13-503)
Statutory reference:
Definitions pertaining to emergency management, see 63 O.S. § 683.3