For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ADVISORY COUNCIL. The County Emergency Management Advisory Council, as established under this chapter, pursuant to I.C. 10-14-3-17.
BOARD. The Board of County Commissioners, as elected pursuant to I.C. 36-2-2.
CHAIRPERSON The Chairperson of the County Emergency Management Advisory Council, as established under this chapter, pursuant to I.C. 10-14-3-17.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. The preparation for, and the execution of, all emergency functions, to include mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
DEPARTMENT. The Department of Emergency Management, as established under this chapter, pursuant to I.C. 10-14-3-17.
DIRECTOR. The County Director of Emergency Management, as established and appointed, pursuant to this chapter.
DISASTER. The occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or human-made 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, hazardous materials spill or contamination requiring emergency action to avert danger or damage, air contamination, drought, explosion, riot, or hostile military or paramilitary action which cannot be handled by normal operating personnel, procedures, resources, or facilities.
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.
HUMAN-MADE DISASTER. Any incidents, including, but not limited to, riots, strikes, insurrections, terrorist acts, civil disturbances, threats to national security, or other human-made cause.
NATURAL DISASTER. Any incidents affecting or threatening the public health, welfare, safety, or security, including, but not limited to, flood, tornado, earthquake, wind, storm, winter storm, or other natural cause.
PARTICIPATING EMERGENCY SERVICE.
(1) Any county department or agency designated in the emergency operations plan to participate in emergency management activities pursuant to § 34.18(A)(4).
(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. 10-14-3-16 and § 34.19(B)(36).
PERSONNEL. County officers and employees, and emergency management volunteers, unless otherwise indicated.
PLAN or EMERGENCY PLAN. The current local emergency plan whose preparation and updating are mandated by I.C. 10-14-3-17(h).
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE COUNTY.
(1) As referred to in I.C. 10-14-3-29(a), for purposes of declaring a local disaster emergency, and as referred to hereinafter, means the regularly designated President of the Board of County Commissioners, except if he or she is unavailable or incapacitated, and the Board has a regularly-designated President Pro Tem, the President Pro Tem shall be the PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER. If the President is unavailable or incapacitated, and there is no designated President Pro Tem, then the remaining two Commissioners shall select among themselves one to be the PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER in the same manner as when an ordinary business meeting needs to be conducted in the absence of the President. If both the President and another Commissioner are absent or incapacitated, then the remaining Commissioner shall be considered the PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER. In the absence or incapacity of all County Commissioners, the office of PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER shall devolve upon first, the Director of Emergency Management; second, the Deputy Director of Emergency Management; third, the County Auditor; fourth, the County Clerk; and fifth, the County Recorder.
(2) The PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE COUNTY, selected by the above procedure, if not a member of the County Commission, shall exercise all powers and fulfill all duties of the PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER under I.C. 10-14-3-29(a) until such time as a County Commissioner shall no longer be unavailable or incapacitated, at which time the County Commissioner, or the regularly-designated President of the Board if he or she is no longer unavailable or incapacitated, shall assume all the powers and duties associated with the office of President of the Board. THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE COUNTY, selected by the above procedure, if a member of the County Commission, shall exercise all powers and fulfill all duties of the PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER under I.C. 10-14-3-29(a) until such time as the regularly-designated President of the Board shall no longer be unavailable or incapacitated, at which time the regularly-designated President of the Board shall resume all the powers and duties associated with his or her office.
SEMA. The State Emergency Management Agency, established under I.C. 10-8-2-1.
TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTER. Any incidents, including, but not limited to, severe fire, explosions, hazardous material spills, radiological problems, or other technological cause.
(Ord. 1996-15, passed 11-19-1996; Ord. 2000-1, passed 2-7-2000)