(a) A state of emergency shall be deemed to exist whenever, during times of public crisis, disaster, rioting, catastrophe or similar public emergency, for any reason, public safety authorities are unable to maintain public order or afford adequate protection for lives, safety of property or whenever the occurrence of any such condition is imminent.
(b) In the event of an existing or threatened emergency which has the potential to endanger the lives, safety, health or welfare of the people within the town or any part thereof, or threatens damage to or destruction of property, the Mayor is hereby authorized and empowered to issue a state of emergency declaration declaring to all persons the existence of such 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. The Mayor will provide notification to all Aldermen and the Town Manager as soon as possible after such a declaration has been issued.
(c) The Mayor is hereby authorized and empowered to establish and activate an emergency management organization to respond to the existence of such a state of emergency in order to more effectively protect the lives and property of people within the town.
(d) The Mayor is hereby authorized and empowered to limit by declaration the application of all or any part of such restrictions to any area specifically designated or described within the town and to specific hours of the day or night; and to exempt from all or any part of such restrictions, while acting in the line of and within the scope of their respective duties, aldermen, law enforcement officers, firemen, public employees, rescue squad members, 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 such other classes of persons as may be essential to the preservation of public order and immediately necessary to serve the safety, health and welfare needs of the people within the town.
(Ord. 19-02, passed 2-7-2019)