(A) For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
EMERGENCY.
An occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or man-made accidental, military, paramilitary, weather-related, or riot-related cause.
STATE OF EMERGENCY.
The finding and declaration by the Mayor that an emergency exists.
(B) If an emergency exists, the Mayor is hereby authorized and empowered under G.S. § 166A-19.22 and G.S. § 166A-19.31 to issue a public proclamation declaring to all persons the existence of a state of emergency, and, in order to more effectively protect the lives and property of people within the town, to place in effect any or all of the restrictions hereinafter authorized.
(C) The Mayor is hereby authorized and empowered to limit by the proclamation the application of all or any part of the restrictions authorized by this chapter to any area specifically designated or described within the town and to specify hours of the day or night, and to exempt from all or any part of such restrictions, while acting in the line of and within the scope of their respective duties, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other public employees, rescue squad members, doctors, nurses, employees of hospitals, and other medical facilities, on-duty military personnel whether state or federal, on-duty employees of public utilities, public transportation companies, and newspaper, magazine, radio broadcasting, and television broadcasting corporations operated for profit, and such other classes of persons as may be deemed essential to the preservation of public order and immediately necessary to serve the safety, health, and welfare needs of the people within the town.
(Ord. 02-04, passed 5-1-2002; Am. Ord. 14-03, passed 6-4-2014; Am. Ord. 21-04, passed 9-1-2021)