(A) General powers and duties. Subject to the direction and control of the Advisory Council, the Director shall be executive head of the Department, and, pursuant to I.C. 10-14-3-17(d)(2)(A), has direct responsibility for the organization, administration and operation of the Department, including the following specific powers and duties:
(1) Pursuant to I.C. 10-14-3-17(d)((2)(B), the Director is responsible to the Chairman of the Advisory Council, and as such shall keep the Chairman fully informed on emergency management activities, and shall provide such reports to the Advisory Council if so directed by the Chairman of the Advisory Council.
(2) The Director shall keep the Board fully informed on emergency management activities.
(3) The Director shall submit to the Advisory Council and the County Commissioners a yearly report on the county's comprehensive emergency management, including mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery taken in the previous year, and planned and recommended for the year to come.
(4) The Director shall ensure that all of the duties and responsibilities of the emergency management agency are completed.
(5) The Director shall ensure that all county employees and rostered volunteers with responsibilities as part of the comprehensive emergency management plan receive training in functions that they are to perform under the plan.
(6) The Director shall design and conduct exercises of the comprehensive emergency management plan, as required by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.
(7) The Director shall ensure that the comprehensive emergency management plan addresses all hazards and includes all cities, towns and other population centers within the county.
(8) The Director shall submit to Indiana Department of Homeland Security the assessment specified in IDHS's required format and within IDHS's required time frame for submission.
(9) The Director shall provide to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security Executive Director annual reports and documentation as mandated.
(10) The Director shall competently manage the Department's various functions, including, among others, financial, personnel and logistic.
(11) The Director shall timely obey the directives of superior state authorities.
(12) The Director shall ensure that the activities of the Department at all times comport with I.C. 10-14-3 and other applicable statutes, rules and county ordinances.
(13) The Director shall develop an emergency operating center (“EOC”) as a site from which key officials can direct and control operations during a disaster or emergency.
(14) The Director shall attain certification as a basic professional emergency manager from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security within two years of first assuming the position of Director; except that an individual appointed as a Director prior to January 1, 2005, shall attain this certification by no later than January 1, 2009. After the Director attains this certification, the Director shall complete the continuing emergency management education required by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to maintain this certification.
(15) The Director shall ensure that the Deputy Director attains certification as a basic professional emergency manager from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security within four years of first assuming the position of Deputy Director. After the Deputy Director attains this certification, the Director shall ensure that the Deputy Director completes the continuing emergency management education required by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to maintain this certification.
(16) The Director shall attend, and shall ensure that the Deputy Director and, all paid emergency management staff attend, emergency management training courses as needed to stay up-to-date on the latest advances in emergency management.
(17) The Director shall assume responsibility for public relations, information and education regarding all phases of emergency management.
(18) The Director shall assure coordination within the county of all activities for emergency management.
(19) The Director shall maintain liaison and coordinate with all other affected agencies, public and private.
(20) The Director shall coordinate the recruitment and training for volunteer personnel and agencies to augment the personnel and facilities of the county for emergency management purposes.
(21) The Director shall seek, negotiate and enter into (with the approval or ratification of the County Commissioners and consistent with the state emergency operations plan and program) mutual aid arrangements with other public and private agencies for emergency management purposes, and taking all steps in accordance with such arrangements to comply with or take advantage thereof in the event of an actual emergency affecting the parties;
(22) The Director shall accept any offer of the federal government to provide for the use of the county services, equipment, supplies, materials or funds for emergency management purposes by way of gift, grant or loan, when the Governor has approved such offer.
(23) The Director shall seek and may accept, from any person, firm or corporation, any gratuitous offers to provide services, equipment, supplies, materials, funds, licenses or privileges to use real estate or other premises, to the county for emergency management purposes.
(24) The Director shall issue proper insignia and papers to emergency management workers and other people directly concerned with emergency management.
(25) Prior to accepting them as members of the Department, the Director shall ensure that all volunteers meet the criteria set forth in this chapter.
(26) As soon as an emergency or disaster declaration has been made, the Director shall make rapid and accurate assessment of:
(a) Property damage;
(b) Personal injuries;
(c) Fatalities;
(d) Basic needs; and
(e) Special needs.
(27) In addition to the powers and duties expressly provided above, the Director shall be construed to have all powers and duties of a local emergency management director as provided under I.C. 10-14-3. In particular, but not by limitation, the Director, through the Department, may perform, or cause to be performed, with respect to the county, any function parallel or analogous to those performed on a statewide basis by IDHS under I.C. 10-14-3.
(28) The Director shall coordinate the activities of emergency management volunteers during emergency and non-emergency situations.
(29) The Director shall coordinate and develop the necessary agreements with the state, other Indiana political subdivisions, political subdivisions in adjoining states, and private businesses, to ensure that the county will have access to the resources and personnel that may be needed during an emergency or disaster.
(30) The Director shall write grant proposals and/or assist with the writing of grant proposals to promote emergency management, public safety, and homeland security objectives.
(BC Ord. 1995-6, passed 2-22-95; Am. BC Ord. 2007-06, passed 6-20-07)