It is the policy of the State of Missouri per Section 44.080,
RSMo., that all political subdivisions “shall establish a local
organization for disaster planning in accordance with the State Emergency
Operations Plan and Program.” Further, Section 79.380, RSMo.,
empowers the Board of Aldermen to make regulations and pass ordinances
for the prevention of the introduction of contagious diseases in the
City, and for the abatement of the same, and may make quarantine laws
and enforce the same within five (5) miles of the City. In compliance
with the mandate and authority given it, the Board of Aldermen of
the City of Wright City has adopted the following policy.
In this Chapter, "disaster" means an occurrence
such as a tornado, storm, flood, high water, wind driven water, earthquake,
drought, blizzard, disease, pestilence, famine, fire, explosion, building
collapse, commercial transportation wreck, or any other situation
that causes human suffering or creates human needs that the victims
cannot alleviate without assistance and that requires an extraordinary
commitment of governmental resources. This definition is to be viewed
advisedly and should not be applied rigidly to exclude situations
not enumerated.
Upon the actual occurrence of a disaster within the City when
the safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the City are jeopardized
or in the event of enemy attack, sabotage or other hostile action,
the Mayor is hereby empowered to declare an emergency or that a disaster
has or is occurring, and in accordance with the Missouri Disaster
Operations Plan, and during such emergency, to activate all of the
rights, duties and responsibilities granted under the Missouri Civil
Defense Act and by the rules and regulations promulgated thereto.
Upon declaration of an emergency or a disaster, the Mayor shall exercise
all powers granted by City ordinance and State Statute and shall additionally
take all steps necessary to assure the health, safety and welfare
of all those within the City limits.
A.
Whenever
the Mayor is absent from the City, disabled, missing or presumed disabled,
the Acting President of the Board shall assume the duties of the Mayor.
B.
If
the President of the Board is absent from the City, disabled, missing
or presumed disabled, the duties of the Mayor shall be assumed by
the Alderman with the most cumulative seniority on the Board who is
present and able to function in the capacity of Mayor.
C.
If
neither the Mayor, President of the Board, nor any members of the
Board of Aldermen can be found within the City who are fit to assume
the duties of the Mayor, the City Clerk or surviving senior department
head shall assume the duties of the Mayor hereunder.
D.
The
fitness of any individual to assume the duties of Mayor shall be determined
by a consensus of those Board members present, or, in their absence,
by a consensus of those City department heads present.
A.
Under
the provisions of the Section 44.080, RSMo., there is hereby created
the Wright City Emergency Management Agency, the head of which (the
“Coordinator”) shall be the Chief of Police. This agency
shall be responsible for the preparation and implementation of emergency
functions required to prevent and minimize injury and damage due to
disasters, to include emergency management of resources and administration
of such economic controls as may be needed to provide for the welfare
of the people, and emergency functions (excluding functions for which
the military forces are primarily responsible) in accordance with
the Missouri Civil Defense Act, Chapter 44, RSMo.
B.
The
Emergency Management Agency shall perform emergency functions in cooperation
with the County and the State in accordance with the provisions of
the Missouri Civil Defense Act, any City-County mutual aid agreement,
and any cooperative agreement hereinafter adopted.
C.
The
basic operational structure of this agency shall consist of existing
departments of the City government who will perform emergency activities
related to those performed normally. Auxiliary groups may be formed
and trained under the direction and control of the operating department
they are to support.
A.
The
administrative staff of the Emergency Management Agency shall consist
of the Coordinator and such additional staff members as the Board
of Aldermen may authorize. Members will be selected by the Coordinator
in order to conform to the State organizations and procedures for
the conduct of emergency operations as outlined in the Missouri Disaster
Operations Plan.
B.
The
Coordinator shall have direct responsibility for the organization,
administration and operation of local disaster planning subject to
the direction and control of the Mayor.
C.
The
Coordinator is authorized to select and obtain Federal government
surplus property through the State Disaster Planning and Operations
Office and the State Department of Education. The Coordinator shall
obtain the necessary approval to obligate the City for the handling
charge imposed by the Department of Education and the State Agency
for Surplus Property. The Coordinator may delegate authority to obtain
surplus property at the State Agency for Surplus Property warehouse
with the approval of the Mayor.
D.
The
Coordinator shall be responsible for maintaining records on use and
disposal of all items of equipment placed under the jurisdiction of
the agency.
E.
The
Coordinator is authorized to submit all materials and sign all documents
requested by the State Disaster Planning and Operations Office to
qualify the City for participation in Federal contributions for personnel
and administrative expense program under P.L. 85.606.
F.
The
Coordinator shall, with the consent of the Mayor, appoint various
public shelter managers, who, in the case of national or civil emergency,
shall open public shelters, take charge of all stocks of food, water
and other supplies stored in the shelter, admit the public in accordance
with the City Shelter Use Plan and take whatever control measures
necessary for the protection and safety of the occupants. Such public
shelter managers are authorized to use reasonable restraint against
those who refuse to cooperate with the routine of shelter living under
emergency conditions. Refusal of a person to carry out the reasonable
orders of the shelter manager and his/her appointed staff shall be
deemed a misdemeanor.
All full-time employees of the City are hereby declared to be
members of the Emergency Management Agency and shall perform such
duties as the Coordinator may deem necessary to prepare for or respond
to a disaster. Employees shall receive no additional compensation
for serving as members of this agency.
A.
The
Mayor and the Coordinator, in accordance with the Missouri Civil Defense
Act, may:
1.
Expend funds, enter into contracts, obtain and distribute equipment,
materials and supplies for emergency management purposes.
2.
Provide for the health and safety of persons, including emergency
assistance to victims of an enemy or pandemic attack; provide for
the safety of property; and direct and coordinate with the policies
and plans of the Federal and State disaster and emergency planning.
3.
Appoint and remove rescue teams and other emergency operations teams,
units or personnel who shall serve without compensation; assign emergency
missions to non-governmental groups such as physicians, heavy equipment
operators and owners of local businesses as necessary to develop a
capability to augment the Emergency Management Agency's response to
disaster.
4.
In the event of declared national emergency or declared local disaster
situation, waive the provisions of Statutes requiring advertisements
for bids for the performance of public work or entering into of contracts.
5.
With the approval of the Board of Aldermen and consistent with the
Missouri Disaster Operations Plan, enter into mutual aid agreements
with other public and private agencies within and without the State
for reciprocal emergency aid.
6.
Accept services, materials, equipment, supplies or funds granted
or loaned by the Federal government for disaster planning and operations
purposes.
The Coordinator shall prepare a Comprehensive Disaster Response
Plan and develop a procedure to implement it quickly and with the
least amount of inconvenience to the public. The Disaster Preparedness
Plan shall be submitted for amendment to the Board when necessary.
