As used in this chapter hereinafter the following words and terms have the meanings indicated.
ADVISORY COUNCIL. The LaPorte County Emergency Management Advisory Council as established under this chapter, pursuant to I.C. 10-4-1-10.
BOARD. The Board of County Commissioners, as elected pursuant to I.C. 36-2-2.
CHAIRMAN. The Chairman of the LaPorte County Emergency Management Advisory Council as established under this chapter, pursuant to I.C. 10-4-1-10.
COUNTY. LaPorte County.
DIRECTOR. The County Director of Emergency Management (formally referred to as Director) as established and appointed pursuant to this chapter in accordance with I.C. 10-4-1-10.
DEPARTMENT. The Department of Emergency Management as established under this chapter, pursuant to I.C. 10-4-1-10.
DISASTER. Occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or manmade cause, including but not limited to fire, flood, earthquake, wind, storm, wave action, oil spill, other water contamination requiring emergency action to avert danger or damage, air contamination, drought, explosion, riot, or hostile military or paramilitary action.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. The preparation for and the coordination of all emergency
functions, other than functions for which military forces or other federal agencies are primarily responsible, to prevent, minimize, and repair injury and damage resulting from disasters. These functions include, without limitation, firefighting services, police services, medical and health services, rescue, engineering, warning services, communications, radiological, chemical and other special weapons defense, evacuation of persons from stricken areas, emergency welfare services, emergency transportation, plant protection, temporary restoration of public utility services, and other junctions related to civilian protection, together with all other activities necessary or incidental to the preparation for and coordination of the foregoing junctions.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT VOLUNTEER. Any person who serves without compensation in the Department of Emergency Management, being first duly rostered, identified and appointed by the Director, including persons and private agencies or governmental units offering services to the county during emergency situations or mutual aid to other emergency services who request assistance.
IDHS. The State Emergency Management Agency established under I.C. 10-8-2-1.
PARTICIPATING EMERGENCY SERVICE.
(1) Any county department or agency designated in the emergency operations plan to participate in emergency management activities, and,
(2) Any department or agency of the state, another county, a municipal corporation, or a volunteer organization designated to participate in the county's emergency management programs and activities pursuant to a cooperative or mutual aid agreement entered into pursuant to I.C. 10-4-1-10.
PERSONNEL. County officers and employees and emergency management volunteers, unless otherwise indicated.
PLAN OR EMERGENCY PLAN. The current local Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan whose preparation and updating are mandated by I.C. 10-4-1-10J.
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER of the county as referred to in I.C. 10-4-1-23(a) for purposes of declaring a local disaster emergency, and as referred to hereinafter, means the County Board of Commissioners established under I.C. 36-2-2. If a quorum of the County Board of Commissioners (two of the three Commissioners) is unavailable or is incapacitated, then the following establishes the line of succession for Principal Executive Officer:
(1) Regularly designated President of the County Board of Commissioners. If a quorum of the County Board of Commissioners (two of the three Commissioners as established under I.C. 36-2-4-3) is unavailable or is incapacitated, then the regularly designated President of the County Board of Commissioners shall serve as the Principal Executive Officer for the purposes of this chapter until such time that a quorum of the County Board of Commissioners is no longer unavailable or incapacitated.
(2) President Pro-Tem of the Board of County Commissioners. If both a quorum of the County Board of Commissioners and the regularly designated President of the County Board of Commissioners are unavailable or are incapacitated, then the President Pro-Tem of the County Board of Commissioners shall serve as the Principal Executive Officer for the purposes of this chapter until such time that either the regularly designated President or a quorum of the County Board of Commissioners is no longer unavailable or incapacitated.
(3) Remaining Commissioner of the Board of County Commissioners. If a quorum of the Board of County Commissioners, the regularly designated President of the Board of County Commissioners, and the President Pro-Tem of the County Board of Commissioners are all unavailable or are incapacitated, then the remaining Commissioner of the County Board of Commissioners shall serve as the Principal Executive Officer for the purposes of this chapter until such time that the President Pro-Tem, the regularly designated President, or a quorum of the County Board of Commissioners is no longer unavailable or incapacitated.
(4) County Auditor. If all of the County Commissioners are unavailable or incapacitated, then the County Auditor shall serve as the Principal Executive Officer for the purposes of this chapter until such time that a County Commissioner is no longer unavailable or incapacitated.
(5) County Clerk. If all of the County Commissioners and the County Auditor are unavailable or incapacitated, then the County Clerk shall serve as the Principal Executive Officer for the purposes of this chapter until such time that the County Clerk or a County Commissioner is no longer unavailable or incapacitated.
(6) County Recorder. If all of the County Commissioners, the County Auditor, and the County Clerk are unavailable or incapacitated, then the County Recorder shall serve as the Principal Executive Officer for the purposes of this chapter until such time that the County Auditor, the County Clerk or a County Commissioner is no longer unavailable or incapacitated.
(7) Director of Emergency Management. If all of the County Commissioners, the County Auditor, the County Clerk and the County Recorder are unavailable or incapacitated, then the Director of Emergency Management shall serve as the Principal Executive Officer for the purposes of this chapter until such time that the Counter Recorder, the County Auditor, the County Clerk or a County Commissioner is no longer unavailable or incapacitated.
(Ord. 2013-02A, passed 5-15-13)