The mayor and the board of county commissioners shall, during periods of emergency caused by enemy attack or other catastrophe or disaster affecting the town, jointly direct and control the operations of the city-county organization for civil defense established in the civil defense plan. The mayor is authorized and directed to take, during such periods of emergency, such actions as are reasonably necessary to prevent or minimize loss of life and property, in cooperation with the board of county commissioners and the civil defense director of Liberty County. (1969 Code §2.32.020)