Directives Issued by the State Office of Emergency Management

DIRECTIVE NO. 61

September 18, 1958 is hereby revised.

SUBJECT: DUTIES AND POWERS OF MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS AND COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS

1. DEFINITION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY
   
   "Emergency" shall mean and include "disasters" and "war emergencies" as defined in Chapter 438, P.L. 1953, Section 3.
   
   
2. LOCAL DISASTER EMERGENCY
   
   
   1. Whenever, in his/her opinion, a disaster has occurred or is imminent in any municipality, the Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator of that municipality shall proclaim a state of local disaster emergency within the municipality. The municipal Emergency Management Coordinator in accordance with regulations promulgated by the State Director of Emergency Management, shall be empowered to issue and enforce such orders as may be necessary to implement and carry out Emergency Management operations and to protect the health, safety, and resources of the residents of the municipality.
      
   2. The County Emergency Management Coordinator shall be immediately advised of the proclamation of a state of local disaster emergency by the Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator and the action taken. In turn, the County Emergency Management Coordinator shall immediately notify the State Director.
      
   3. Whenever the disaster is confined to one municipality, the Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator shall have complete authority to issue and enforce such orders as may be necessary to implement and carry out Emergency Management operations. Any requests for assistance outside the municipality shall be directed to the County Emergency Management Coordinator, and all assistance sent to the aid of the municipality struck by disaster shall come under the authority of the Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator.
      
      
3. COUNTY DISASTER EMERGENCY
   The County Emergency Management Coordinator is hereby granted authority to declare a state of emergency in the entire county if, in his/her judgment, as a result of natural or unnatural causes, conditions may present severe hazards to life and property, even though the Municipal Emergency Management Coordinators have not declared a state of local disaster emergency in their own municipalities. It shall be the duty of each Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator to comply with the orders of the County Emergency Management Coordinators. The County Emergency Management Coordinator shall immediately advise the State Director of actions taken.