(A) Comprehensive emergency management plans shall be adopted and maintained by resolution of the Board of Commissioners.
(B) Planning for fixed nuclear facilities shall also be included in the comprehensive plan. In the preparation of these plans as it pertains to city and county organization, it is intended that the services, equipment, and facilities and personnel of all existing departments and agencies shall be utilized to the fullest extent. When approved, it shall be the duty of all departments and agencies to perform the functions assigned by these plans and to maintain their portions of the plans in a current state of readiness at all times. These plans shall have the effect of law whenever a disaster, as defined in this chapter, has been proclaimed.
(C) The Coordinator shall prescribe in the emergency plans those positions within the disaster organization, in addition to his or her own, for which lines of succession are necessary. In each instance, the responsible person will designate and keep on file with the Coordinator a current list of three persons as successors to his or her position. The list will be in order of succession and will, nearly as possible, designate persons best capable of carrying out all assigned duties and functions.
(D) Each service chief and department head assigned responsibility in the plans shall be responsible for carrying out all duties and functions assigned therein. Duties will include the organization and training of assigned employees and, where needed, volunteers. Each chief shall formulate the standing operations procedure to implement the plans for his or her service.
(E) Amendments to these plans shall be submitted to the Coordinator. If approved, the Coordinator will then submit the amendments to the Board of Commissioners with his or her recommendation for its approval. Such amendments shall take effect 30 days from the date of approval.
(F) When a required competency or skill or a disaster function is not available within government, the Coordinator is authorized to seek assistance from persons outside of government. The assignment of duties, when of a supervisory nature, shall also include the granting of authority for the persons so assigned to carry out such duties prior to, during, and after, the occurrence of a disaster. Local government, on a voluntary basis, may accept such services from persons outside of government. Such citizens shall be enrolled as emergency management volunteers.
(G) The plan for and establish an emergency operations center capable for 24-hour operations.
(H) The Emergency Management Coordinator shall ensure that any mutual aid agreements required are established and reviewed on an annual basis.
(I) The Emergency Management Coordinator shall ensure as needed that declarations for state of emergency are drafted in accordance with G.S. Chapter 166A.
(Ord. passed 12-16-2013)