El Centro Municipal Code Art. I In General

The declared purposes of this chapter are to provide for the preparation and carrying out of plans for the protection of persons and property within this city in the event of an emergency; the direction of the emergency organizations; and the coordination of the emergency functions of this city with all other public agencies, corporations, organizations and affected private persons.

(Code 1962, § 7-1; Ord. No. 73-6, § 1)

As used in this chapter, "emergency" shall mean the actual or threatened existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within this city caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot or earthquake, or other conditions, including conditions resulting from war or imminent threat of war, but other than conditions resulting from a labor controversy, which conditions are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of this city, requiring the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat.

(Code 1962, § 7-2; Ord. No. 73-6, § 1)

All officers and employees of this city, together with those volunteer forces enrolled to aid them during an emergency, and all groups, organizations and persons who may by agreement or operation of law, including persons impressed into service under the provisions of section 8-30 (a) and (c) of this chapter, be charged with duties incident to the protection of life and property in this city during such emergency, shall constitute the emergency organization of the city.

(Code 1962, § 7-7; Ord. No. 73-6, § 1)

The city disaster council shall be responsible for the development of the city emergency plan, which plan shall provide for the effective mobilization of all of the resources of this city, both public and private, to meet any condition constituting a local emergency, state of emergency or state of war emergency; and shall provide for the organization, powers and duties, services and staff of the emergency organization. Such plan shall take effect upon adoption by resolution of the city council.

(Code 1962, § 7-8; Ord. No. 73-6, § 1)

Any expenditures made in connection with emergency activities, including mutual aid activities, shall be deemed conclusively to be for the direct protection and benefit of the inhabitants and property of the city.

(Code 1962, § 7-9; Ord. No. 73-6, § 1)

It shall be a misdemeanor, punishable as provided in section 1-12 of this Code, for any person, during an emergency, to:

(a) Willfully obstruct, hinder or delay any member of the emergency organization in the enforcement of any lawful rule or regulation issued pursuant to this chapter, or in the performance of any duty imposed upon him by virtue of this chapter.

(b) Do any act forbidden by any lawful rule or regulation issued pursuant to this chapter, if such act is of such a nature as to give or be likely to give assistance to the enemy or to imperil the lives or property of inhabitants of this city, or to prevent, hinder or delay the defense or protection thereof.

(c) Wear, carry or display, without authority, any means of identification specified by the emergency agency of the state.

(Code 1962, § 7-10; Ord. No. 73-6, § 1)