§ 30-6. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this chapter, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Continuity of government means the principle of establishing policies and procedures that allow town government to continue its essential municipal services and operations in case of a disaster or emergency.

Continuity of operations means the continuation of essential municipal services and operations in the case of a disaster or emergency.

Disaster means the occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or manmade cause, including fire, flood, earthquake, wind, storm, wave action, oil spill or other water contamination, volcanic activity, epidemic, air contamination, blight, drought, infestation, explosion, riot, hostile military or paramilitary action, other public calamity requiring emergency action, or energy emergency, and may warrant disaster assistance. The emergency operations center will be activated as appropriate during and after a disaster.

Emergency means an occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property that is smaller in scope than a disaster but is larger in scope and more severe in terms of actual or potential damaging effects than an incident. Characteristics of an emergency include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1)

Involves a large area, significant population, or important facilities;

(2)

May require implementation of large-scale evacuation or in-place sheltering and implementation of temporary shelter and mass care operations;

(3)

May require community-wide warning and public instructions;

(4)

Requires a sizable multi-agency response operating under an incident commander;

(5)

May require some external assistance from other local response agencies, contractors, and limited assistance from state or federal agencies; and/or

(6)

The emergency operations center may be activated to provide general guidance and direction, coordinate external support, and provide resource support.

Emergency management plan means the document adopted by the office of emergency management to maintain continuity of government, and in order to provide general guidance for emergency management activities of the town.

Emergency management volunteer means any person who is not employed by the town who is duly registered, identified, and appointed by the office of emergency management, or by the town manager, or by the mayor, and who is assigned to participate in an emergency management activity.

Emergency operations center means the physical location at which the coordination of information and town resources is located to support local disaster or emergency management activities. It is a specially equipped facility from which town officials exercise direction and control and coordinate necessary resources in a disaster or emergency situation.

Incident means an emergency occurrence that is limited in scope and potential effect on lives and property, and is typically handled by one or two town response agencies acting under an incident commander. An incident may require limited external assistance from other local response forces. The emergency operations center is usually not activated during most incidents.

Local state of disaster means an executive order or proclamation by the emergency management director declaring a state of local disaster, upon a finding by the emergency management director that a disaster has occurred or that the occurrence or threat of occurrence of a disaster is imminent. The order or proclamation must include:

(1)

A description of the nature of the disaster;

(2)

A designation of the area threatened; and

(3)

A description of the conditions that have created the state of local disaster.

Local state of emergency means a proclamation by the governor of a state of emergency and designation of the area involved, upon application of the mayor or town council during an emergency, pursuant to V.T.C.A., Government Code ch. 433, as amended.

Secondary emergency operations center means the physical location of a back-up facility that would be used if the primary emergency operations center is unavailable or has its capacity exceeded during an emergency operations center activation.

(Ord. No. 1245, § 2, 12-16-2014)