(A) A state of emergency shall be deemed to exist whenever, during times of great public crisis, disaster, rioting, catastrophe, or similar public emergency, for any reason, municipal public safety authorities are unable to maintain public order or afford adequate protection for lives or property.
(B) In the event of an existing or threatened state of emergency endangering the lives, safety, health and welfare of the people within the town, or threatening damage to or destruction of property, the Mayor is hereby authorized and empowered 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 to any area specifically designated or described within the corporate limits of the town and to specific hours of the day or night; and to exempt from all or any part of the restrictions; law enforcement officers, firefighters and other public employees, 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 other classes of persons as may be essential to the preservation of public order and immediately neces sary to serve the safety, health, and welfare needs of the people within the town.
('76 Code, § 3-3001 (a) - (c))