Farmersville Municipal Code Ch. 2.28 Emergency Services

A. The purposes of this chapter are to provide for the preparation and carrying out of plans for disaster and emergency services, the protection of persons and property within the city in the event of a disaster, and to provide for the coordination of the disaster and emergency functions of the city with all other affected persons and agencies both public and private.

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

(Ord. 93 § 1, 1970)

The 1987 Edition of the County of Tulare, Office of Emergency Services, Multihazard Functional Plan, Volumes 1 and 2 are adopted by reference as if fully set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. 327 § 2, 1988)

Except where the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall govern the construction of this chapter:

A. "Disaster" means actual or threatened enemy attack, sabotage, extraordinary fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, earthquake or other public calamity. It does not include, nor does any provision of this chapter apply to, any condition relating to a labor controversy.

B. "Emergency" means the actual or threatened existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the city caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, earthquake or other conditions including conditions resulting from war or imminent threat of war, 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.

C. "Emergency services" means the preparation for carrying out disaster functions, other than functions for which military forces are primarily responsible, and to prevent, minimize and repair injury and damage resulting from disasters. It does not include, nor does any provisions of this chapter apply to any condition relating to a labor controversy.

D. "Emergency services office" means those physical facilities of the Tulare County Department of Health Services constituting the Tulare Operational Areas Emergency Services Office, the primary emergency operating center and the necessary staff and personnel to operate such facilities on a day-to-day or disaster/emergency basis.

E. "Tulare Operational Area" means the unincorporated area of the county, the cities of Dinuba, Exeter, Farmersville, Lindsay, Portersville, Tulare, Visalia and Woodlake.

(Ord. 327 §§ 3, 4, 1988; Ord. 93 § 2, 1970)

There is created the position of emergency services coordinator of the city who shall represent the city and serve as coordinator of the city who shall represent the city and serve as coordinator between the city and the Tulare Operational Area in the event of an emergency as provided for in the Tulare Office of Emergency Services, Multihazard Functional Plan. The position of emergency services coordinator shall be combined with that of the position of chief of police/fire. The emergency services coordinator shall receive only that compensation as is provided for the chief of police/fire and shall not receive any additional compensation for the duties provided for under this chapter.

(Ord. 327 § 5, 1988: Ord. 93 § 10, 1970)

The coordinator shall have the following general powers and duties:

A. Represent the city for the purpose of coordinating all efforts within the Tulare Operational Area for the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter;

B. Identify and define questions of authority and responsibility that may arise between persons and agencies during periods of designated emergencies;

C. Plan and conduct exercises and drills as ordered by the chairman of the emergency council;

D. Request mutual aid through the California Disaster Office or other political or private agencies as might be needed from time to time;

E. To expend funds in order to address emergencies as provided for within the city's purchasing rules and regulations and in Section 3.16.110 of this code.

(Ord. 327 § 6, 1988: Ord. 93 § 11, 1970)

It is unlawful for any person to perform any of the following acts during a disaster:

A. Wilfully obstruct, hinder or delay any member of the emergency services organization in the enforcement of any lawful rule or regulations issued pursuant to this chapter or in the performance of any duty imposed upon him by virtue of this chapter;

B. To do any act forbidden by any lawful rules and regulations 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 the city, or to prevent or delay the defense or protection thereof;

C. To wear, carry or display, without authority, any means of identification specified by the civil defense and disaster agency of the federal government or the state.

(Ord. 93 § 15, 1970)

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter which are declared unlawful shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable as set out in Chapter 1.12 of this code.

(Ord. 93 § 16, 1970)