In the event that an emergency clearly exists or is imminent within the county, and a state of emergency has not been declared by the Governor nor is any person having the powers of the Chief Executive Officer of the county present to declare such an emergency pursuant to § 39.42, the Director may temporarily presume the existence of a state of emergency even though not officially declared and may, as his own judgment dictate, invoke, implement, and carry out such provisions of the county's adopted comprehensive emergency management and disaster control plan as are necessary to cope with the emergency and protect the public safety and welfare, and shall be construed to have all powers necessary and dispensable to doing so to the extent not specifically limited by statute or specifically limited herein, until such time as a Chief Executive Officer becomes available. This section also applies to the Deputy Director to the extent that the Deputy Director is required to assume the duties of the Director, as provided by § 39.21, in the latter's absence or incapacitation during the emergency. Assistance from the Department of Emergency Management may be rendered without a declaration of an emergency in order to assist local emergency services in time of need.
(Ord. C-88-4, passed 2-4-2013)