(A) The Director, subject to the direction and control of the Advisory Council, shall be the executive head of the Department.
(B) Pursuant to I.C. 10-14-3-17(d)(2)(A), has direct responsibility for the organization, administration, and operation of the Department, including the following specific powers and duties:
(1) The Director, pursuant to I.C. 10-14-3-17(d)(2)(B),is responsible to the Chairperson of the Advisory Council, and as such shall keep the Chairperson fully informed on emergency management activities, and shall provide such reports to the Advisory Council if so directed by the Chairperson of the Advisory Council;
(2) Keep the Board of Commissioners fully informed on emergency management activities;
(3) Submit to the Advisory Council and the County Board of Commissioners a yearly report on the county’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery taken in the previous year, and planned and recommended for the year to come;
(4) Assure that all of the duties and responsibilities of the State Department of Emergency Management Agency are completed;
(5) Assure that all county employees and rostered volunteers with responsibilities as part of the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan receive training in the functions that they are to perform under the Plan;
(6) Design and conduct exercises of the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, as required by the State Department of Emergency Management Agency;
(7) Assure that the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan addresses all hazards and includes all cities, towns, and other population centers within the county;
(8) Submit to State Department of Emergency Management Agency the assessment specified in SEMA’s required format, and within SEMA’s required time frame for submission;
(9) Provide to the State Department of Emergency Management Agency Director annual reports and documentation as mandated;
(10) Competently manage the Department’s various functions, including, among others, financial, personnel, and logistic;
(11) Timely obey the directives of superior state authorities;
(12) Assure that the activities of the Department, at all times, comport with I.C. 10-14-3 and other applicable statutes, rules, and county ordinances;
(13) Develop an emergency operating center (“EOC”) as a site from which key officials can direct and control operations during a disaster or emergency;
(14) Attend, and attain passing grades in, the Emergency Management Professional Development Series for emergency management presented by the State Department of Emergency Management Agency and Public Safety Training Institute within four years of first assuming the position of Director;
(15) Attend, and attain passing grades in, such emergency management training required by SEMA in subsequent years;
(16) Assure the Deputy Director’s attendance at, and passing grades in, the Emergency Management Professional Development Series for emergency management presented by the Public Safety Training Institute within four years of first assuming the position of Deputy Director;
(17) Assure the Deputy Director’s, and all paid emergency management staff’s, attendance at, and passing grades in, such emergency management training as may be required by SEMA in subsequent years;
(18) Assure ongoing attendance by the Director, the Deputy Director, and all paid emergency management staff at further emergency management courses presented by the Public Safety Training Institute to assure continued knowledge of the latest information on emergency management;
(19) Assume responsibility for public relations, information, and education regarding all phases of emergency management;
(20) Assure coordination within the county of all activities for emergency management;
(21) Maintain liaison, and coordinate with, all other affected agencies public and private;
(22) Coordinate the recruitment and training for volunteer personnel and agencies to augment the personnel and facilities of the county for emergency management purposes;
(23) Seek, negotiate, and enter into (with the approval or ratification of the County Board of Commissioners, and consistent with the State Emergency Operations Plan and program) mutual aid arrangements with other public and private agencies for emergency management purposes, and taking all steps in accordance with such arrangements to comply with, or take advantage thereof, in the event of an actual emergency affecting the parties;
(24) Accept any offer of the Federal Government to provide for the use of the county any services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds for emergency management purposes by way of gift, grant, or loan, when the Governor has approved such offer;
(25) Seek and accept from any person, firm, or corporation, any gratuitous offers to provide services, equipment, supplies, materials, funds, or licenses, or privileges to use real estate or other premises, to the county for emergency management purposes;
(26) Issue proper insignia and papers to emergency management workers, and other people directly concerned with emergency management;
(27) Assure that all volunteers meet the criteria set forth in this chapter prior to accepting them as members of the Department;
(28) Make rapid and accurate assessment of (as soon as an emergency or disaster declaration has been made):
(a) Property damage;
(b) Personal injuries;
(c) Fatalities;
(d) Basic needs; and
(e) Special needs.
(29) In addition to the powers and duties expressly provided in divisions (B)(1) through (B)(28) above, the Director shall be construed to have all powers and duties of a local Emergency Management Director, as provided under I.C. 10-14-3. In particular, but not by limitation, the Director, through the Department, may perform, or cause to be performed, with respect to the county, any function parallel, or analogous, to those performed on a statewide basis by SEMA under I.C. 10-14-3.
(Ord. 2005-24, passed 7-19-2005)