[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of East Hanover 8-11-2003 by Ord. No. 15-2003. Amendments noted where applicable.]
It is the intent and purpose of this chapter
to establish an emergency management system that will ensure the complete
and efficient utilization of all of the Township's facilities
to combat disaster resulting from emergencies, whether natural or
man-made, or nuclear disaster or enemy attack.
The emergency management system will coordinate
all activity in connection with emergency management. It will be the
instrument through which the Mayor and Township Council may exercise
the authority and discharge the responsibilities vested in them in
the New Jersey Civil Defense Act of 1942, P.L. 1942, c. 25, as amended
and supplemented and by authority of this chapter.
This chapter shall not relieve any Township
department of any and all responsibilities or authority given it by
any law, administrative code or local ordinance, nor will it adversely
affect the work of any volunteer agency organized for relief in disaster
emergencies.
The following definitions shall apply in the
interpretation of this chapter:
The Coordinator of the East Hanover emergency management
system, appointed as prescribed in this chapter.
There shall be up to three Deputy Emergency Management Coordinators
who shall be appointed as prescribed in this chapter. All Deputy Emergency
Management Coordinators shall be required to have all of the training,
certificates and credentials that are required of the coordinator.
An unusual incident or the imminence thereof, resulting from
natural or man-made causes, which endangers the health, safety or
resources of the residents of the Township of East Hanover and which
is or may become to large in scope or unusual in type to be handled
in its entirety by regular Township operating services.
Includes disaster and war emergency, as defined in this chapter.
The employees, equipment and Township facilities of all departments,
boards, institutions and commissions and, in addition, all volunteer
persons or agencies.
Any person duly registered, identified and appointed by the
Coordinator of Emergency Management and assigned to participate in
the emergency management activity.
Includes any disaster or the imminence thereof resulting
from natural or man-made causes other than enemy attack and limited
to the extent that action by the Governor under the New Jersey Emergency
Management-Disaster Control Act is not required.
Includes responding to any events as described as an emergency
as defined herein.
Includes plans, programs and other emergency procedures promulgated
by the Emergency Management Coordinator.
Contributing of services, equipment or facilities to the
emergency management organization without remuneration.
Includes any disaster occurring in this jurisdiction as a
result of enemy attack or the imminent danger thereof.
A.
The Mayor shall appoint not more than 15 members to
a Local Emergency Planning Committee. Members shall hold office at
the will and pleasure of the Mayor. The Emergency Management Coordinator
shall be a member and serve as chair of the Committee. The Committee
shall assist the Township in establishing the various local volunteer
support needed to meet the requirements of all emergency management
and disaster control activities in pursuance of the provisions of
P.L. 1942, c. 251, as amended, and this chapter.
B.
Membership in the Emergency Planning Committee should
be diverse and include representation from the following stakeholder
groups and organizations:
(1)
Elected and appointed local officials.
(2)
Emergency management.
(3)
Law enforcement.
(4)
Fire service.
(5)
EMS/first aid service.
(6)
Health services.
(7)
Local environmental and transportation agencies.
(8)
Local and regional schools.
(9)
Area hospitals.
(10)
Media representatives.
(11)
Community groups.
(12)
Facilities subject to emergency planning and
community right-to-know requirements.
(13)
Local business.
C.
The Mayor shall appoint an Emergency Management Coordinator
who shall be a person well-versed and trained in planning operations
involving the activities of many different agencies which will operate
to protect the public health, safety and welfare in the event of danger
from emergencies as defined in this chapter. Said person must complete
any and all necessary courses in civil defense and the professional
development series from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The
Coordinator must comply with all federal, state, county or municipal
training guidelines. The term of appointment shall be three years,
and any vacancy in the position shall be filled for the unexpired
portion of the three-year term.
D.
The Emergency Management Coordinator is hereby authorized
and directed to create an organization for emergency management utilizing
to the fullest extent the existing agencies within the Township. The
Coordinator as head of the emergency management system shall be responsible
for its organization, administration and operations.
E.
The organization shall consist of the following:
(1)
An emergency management system will be designated
by the Mayor. He shall appoint an executive head of the system who
shall be known as the Emergency Management Coordinator, and such volunteer
assistants and other employees as he/she shall deem necessary for
the proper functioning of the organization.
(2)
The employees, equipment and facilities of the Township
and its departments, divisions, agencies, boards, institutions, authorities
and commissions shall participate in emergency management activity
when requested to the extent of their ability to do so.
(3)
Volunteer persons and agencies offering service to
and accepted by the Township.
F.
The Coordinator shall designate and appoint, with
the approval of the Mayor, one or more, but not more than three, Deputy
Coordinators to assume emergency duties of the Coordinator in the
event of his/her absence or inability to act, the intent being that
there shall always be a Coordinator in charge of emergency management
operations.
A.
The Emergency Management Coordinator and his/her designees
shall be responsible to the Mayor in regard to all phases of the emergency
management activity. Under the supervision of the Mayor, the Coordinator
shall be responsible for the planning, activation, coordination and
operation of the emergency management activity in the Township. Under
the supervision of the Mayor, the Coordinator shall maintain liaison
with county, state and federal authorities and the authorities of
nearby political subdivisions to ensure the most effective operation
of the emergency management plan. The Coordinator's duties shall
include without limitation the following:
(1)
Personnel. The Coordinator or his/her designee shall
coordinate the recruitment of volunteer personnel and agencies to
augment the personnel and facilities of the Township for emergency
management purposes. The Coordinator and his/her designee may require
emergency services of any Township officer or employee. If regular
forces are deemed to be inadequate, the Coordinator and his/her designee
may require the services of such other personnel as can be obtained
that are available, including citizen volunteers. All duly authorized
persons rendering emergency services shall be entitled to the privileges
and immunities as provided by state law, the ordinances for regular
Township employees and other registered and identified emergency management
workers.
(2)
The Coordinator or his/her designee may, under critical
emergency situations, obtain vital supplies, equipment and other properties
found lacking and needed for the protection of the health, life and
property of the people, and may bind the Township for the value thereof.
(3)
The Coordinator or his/her designee shall negotiate
and conclude agreements with owners or persons in control of buildings
or other property for the use of such buildings or other property
for emergency management purposes.
(4)
The Coordinator or his/her designee will cause to
be prepared the East Hanover Township emergency operations plan.
(5)
The Coordinator or his/her designee shall develop
and coordinate plans for the immediate use of all facilities, equipment,
manpower and other resources of the Township for the purpose of preventing
or minimizing damage to persons and property; and protecting and restoring
to usefulness the governmental services and public health, safety
and welfare.
(6)
Through public information programs, the Coordinator
and his/her designee shall educate the civilian population as to actions
necessary and required for the protection of their persons and property
in case of emergency, as defined herein, whether present or impending.
(7)
The Coordinator or his/her designee shall conduct
yearly exercise of the East Hanover emergency operations plan to ensure
the efficient operation of the emergency management forces and to
familiarize residents with regulations, procedures and operations.
(8)
The Coordinator or his/her designee, with the approval
of the Mayor, shall order emergency management forces to the aid of
other communities when required only in accordance with the statutes
of the state, and the Coordinator or his/her designee may request
the state, county or another community to send aid to the Township
of East Hanover in case of disaster when conditions in the Township
are beyond the control of the local emergency management organization
and/or its resources.
(9)
The Coordinator or his/her designee shall assume such
authority and conduct such activity as the Coordinator and the Mayor
may direct to promote and execute the East Hanover Township emergency
operations plan.
(10)
The Coordinator shall be the Chair of the East
Hanover Emergency Planning Committee.
B.
Whenever, in the opinion of the Coordinator, a disaster
has occurred or is imminent in the Township, he/she shall proclaim
a state of local disaster emergency within the Township. The Coordinator
or his/her designee may exercise the emergency power and authority
necessary to fulfill his/her general powers and duties as defined
in this chapter. The judgment of the Coordinator or his/her designee
shall be the sole criterion necessary to invoke emergency powers indicated
in this chapter, and other appropriate authorities; provided, however,
that nothing herein shall be construed to abridge or curtail the powers
of the Mayor and Township Council.
C.
Promulgation and implementation of regulations.
(1)
During any period when disaster threatens or the Township
has been struck by a disaster as defined in this chapter, the Coordinator
or his/her designee shall promulgate such regulations as deemed necessary
to protect life and property and preserve critical resources.
(2)
The Coordinator or his/her designee shall assist in
implementing such regulations, including, without limitation:
(a)
Regulations prohibiting or restricting the movement
of vehicles in order to facilitate the work of emergency management
forces or to facilitate the mass movement of persons from critical
areas within or without the Township.
(b)
Regulations pertaining to the movement of persons
from areas deemed to be hazardous or vulnerable to disaster.
(c)
Such other regulations necessary to preserve
public peace, health and safety.
(3)
Regulations promulgated in accordance with the authority
above shall be given widespread circulation by proclamations published
and uttered either by advertising, posting, newspaper or radio. These
regulations will have the force of an ordinance when duly filed with
the Township Clerk, and violations will be subject to the penalties
provided in this chapter.
A.
A comprehensive emergency operations plan (EOP) shall
be maintained by the Coordinator. The EOP shall conform to all relevant
federal statutes, rules and regulations and shall identify significant
hazards affecting the Township. The EOP shall be based upon the criteria,
objectives, requirements, responsibilities and concepts of operation
to implement all appropriate protective remedial measures to be taken
in response to a potential or actual emergency as determined by the
State Director of Emergency Management. The EOP shall be reviewed
and updated at least every two years.
B.
In the preparation of this plan as it pertains to
the Township, it is the intent that the services, equipment, facilities
and personnel of all existing departments and agencies, including
the volunteer fire company and first aid squad, shall be utilized
to the fullest extent to protect the peace, health and safety of citizens.
When approved, it shall be the duty of all municipal departments and
agencies to perform the functions assigned by the plan and to maintain
their portions of the plan in a current state of readiness at all
times. The emergency operations plan shall be considered supplementary
to this chapter and have the effect of law whenever a disaster, as
defined by this chapter, has been proclaimed. The EOP shall be compatible
with county and state plans.
C.
The Coordinator shall prescribe in the emergency operations
plan those positions within the disaster organization, in addition
to his/her own, for which lines of succession are necessary.
D.
Each department and/or annex deputy assigned responsibility
in the emergency operations plan shall be responsible for carrying
out all duties and functions assigned therein. Duties will include
the organization and training of assigned Township employees and volunteers.
Each department head and/or annex deputy shall formulate an operation
plan for his/her service which, when approved, shall be annexed to
the EOP and become a part thereof.
E.
When a required competency or skill for a disaster
function is not available within Township government, the Coordinator
is authorized to seek assistance from persons outside of government.
The assignment of duties, when of a supervisory nature, shall also
grant authority for the persons so assigned to carry out such duties
prior to, during and after the occurrence of a disaster. Such services
from persons outside the government may be accepted on a volunteer
basis. Such citizens shall be enrolled as emergency management volunteers
in cooperation with the heads of the departments affected.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any
of the provisions of this chapter or of the regulations or plans issued
pursuant to the authority contained herein or to willfully
obstruct, hinder or delay any member of the emergency management organization
as herein defined in the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter
or any regulation or plan issued hereunto.
B.
Any person, firm, corporation or other entity violating
any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation promulgated
hereunder, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine not
to exceed $1,200, imprisonment for up to 90 days, or both.
