12/17/2007 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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209. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 209.01 POLICY AND PURPOSE • Because of the existing possibility of the occurrence of disasters of unprecedented size and destruction resulting from fire, flood, tornado, blizzard, destructive winds or other natural causes, or from sabotage, hostile action, or from hazardous material mishaps of catastrophic measure; and in order to insure that preparations of this City will be adequate to deal with such disasters, and generally, to provide for the common defense and to protect the public peace, health, and safety, and to preserve the lives and property of the people of this City, it is hereby found and declared to be necessary: (1) To establish a City emergency management organization responsible for City planning and preparation for emergency government operations in time of disasters. (2) To provide for the exercise of necessary powers during emergencies and disasters. (3) To provide for the rendering of mutual aid between this City and other political subdivisions of this State and of other states with respect to the carrying out of emergency preparedness functions. (4) To comply with provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 12, Section 12.25, which requires that each political subdivision of Minnesota shall establish a local organization for emergency management. 209.02 DEFINITIONS For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply. Emergency Management. The preparation for and the carrying out of all emergency functions, other than functions for which military forces are primarily responsible, to prevent, minimize and repair injury and damage resulting from disasters caused by fire, flood, tornado and other acts of nature, or from sabotage, hostile action, or from industrial hazardous material mishaps. These functions include, without limitation, fire - fighting services, police services, emergency medical services, engineering, warning services, communications, radiological, and chemical, evacuation, congregate care, emergency transportation, existing or properly assigned functions of plant protection, temporary restoration of public utility services and other functions related to civil protection, together with all other activities necessary or incidental for carrying out of the foregoing functions. Emergency management includes those activities sometimes referred to as "Civil Defense" functions. Disaster. A situation which creates an immediate and serious impairment to the health and safety of any person, or a situation which has resulted in or is likely to result in catastrophic loss to property and for which traditional sources of relief and assistance within the affected area are unable to repair or prevent the injury or loss. Emergency. An unforeseen combination of circumstances which calls for immediate action to prevent from developing or occurring. 2