For the purposes of this section, the term "emergency services" means the preparation for and the carrying out of all emergency functions, other than functions for which the military forces are primarily responsible, to prevent, minimize and repair injury and damage resulting from disasters caused by enemy attack, sabotage or other hostile action, or by fire, flood, earthquake or other natural or manmade causes. These functions include, without limitation, fire-fighting services, police services, medical and health services, rescue, engineering, air raid warning services, communications, radiological, chemical and other special weapons, defense, evacuation of persons from stricken areas, emergency welfare services, emergency transportation, existing or properly assigned functions of plant protection, temporary restoration of public utility services, and other functions related to civilian protection, together with all other activities necessary or incidental to the preparation for the carrying out of the foregoing functions.
"Disaster" includes the imminent threat of disaster as well as its occurrence and any power or authority exercisable on account of a disaster may be exercised during the period when there is an imminent threat thereof.
(1977 Code Sec. 4.11)