HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 23-005-CCBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Grant County, Washington
ORDINANCE AMENDING GRANT COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 23- '� -CC
COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 2.32 TITLED
"EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT"
WHEREAS, The Grant County Board of Commissioners (Board) adopted by Ordinance
No. 10 -034 -CC (2010) amending Ch. 2.32 of the Grant County Code relating to Emergency
Management Services and amended by Ordinance 18 -124 -CC, Exh A (2018); and
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that it is in the best interest of the county to
update and amend Ch. 2.32 of the Grant County Code; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, the Grant County Board of Commissioners (Board) held two public
meetings and received testimony and input from the Grant County Sheriff s Office, Grant County's
Department of Emergency Management, the public and a number of partner agencies regarding
merging Grant County Emergency Management into the Sheriffs Office; and
WHEREAS, in Washington State each political subdivision must establish and emergency
management organization by ordinance or resolution; and
WHEREAS, the decision to merge Grant County Emergency Management into the Grant
County Sheriff s Office will serve to reinforce Grant County's public safety mission and provide
a strengthened response to major emergencies and disasters County -wide; and
WHEREAS, the integration of Grant County Emergency Management into the 116 person
(this number changes) Sheriff s Office provides sustained and consistently coordinated operations
during emergencies; and
WHEREAS, integration of Grant County Emergency Management will allow for
improved day to day operations due to functioning within a public safety team environment and
include bolstering Grant County Emergency Management with additional personnel; and
WHEREAS, the merger of Grant County Emergency Management into the Grant County
Sheriff s Office will optimize existing resources while providing consistent response strategy and
leadership through the course of an emergency to all emergency services: fire, law enforcement
and state/federal emergency response partners; and
WHEREAS, the merger of Grant County Emergency Management into the Grant County
Sheriffs Office will allow the public to expect improvement in the emergency management
services offered through the advantages of increased staffing and a broadened range of resources.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY ORDAINED by the Board of County
Commissioners of Grant County, State of Washington, that Chapter 2.32 Grant County Code is
amended as shown on Exhibit A attached:
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A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON THE ABOVE
RESOLUTION/ORDINANCE AT 05- O'CLOCK P.M. ON THE Q
DAY OF J- A /\J .9 20230
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 3 day of., --j �Ukk.J (X,A"'-L4 2023.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Rob Jones, Chair
\J
wV I U
Cindy Carter, Vice Chair
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Danny E. tone, Member
ATTEST:
Date:
Barbara J. Vasquez
Administrative Assistant/Clerk of the Board
PUBLISHED Z 2,2- (-43()/12,,2022
Approved as to form:
By Date:
Rebekah M. Kaylor, WSBA #53257
Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
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EXHIBIT "All
Chapter 2.32 — EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
2.32.005 - Purpose
The declared purposes of this chapter are to provide for the preparation and execution of
disaster management and recovery from disaster conditions; organize and direct emergency
management and homeland security issues for the citizens of Grant County and throughout
municipalities as included within the county -wide emergency management program; to prevent
and minimize injuries and damages resulting from disaster caused by fire, flood, winter storms
and other natural hazards, or from sabotage, hostile actions, [hazardous] material incidents and
other manmade disasters; and, in the public interest, protect the public health, safety, welfare,
property, and environment of Grant County.
2.32.010 - Definitions.
"Disaster" includes in its meaning, but is not limited to, extraordinary fire, flood, storm,
epidemic, riot, earthquake, enemy attack, sabotage, other emergencies, or similar public
calamity, and any event expected or unexpected, in which a community's available, pertinent
resources are expended, or the need for resources exceeds availability, and in which a
community undergoes severe danger, incurring losses so that the social or economic structure
of the community is disrupted and the fulfillment of some or all of the community's essential
functions are prevented.
"Emergency" means an event or set of circumstances which (i) demand immediate action
to preserve public heath, protect life, protect public property or to provide relief to any stricken
community overtaken by such occurrences or (ii) reaches such a dimension or degree of
destructiveness as to warrant the declaring [of] an emergency as set forth in chapter 38.52
RCW.
"Emergency management" or "comprehensive emergency management" means
preparation for and execution of all emergency functions other than functions for which the
military forces are primarily responsible, to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from
emergencies and disasters, to aid victims suffering from injury or damage resulting from
disasters caused by all hazards, whether natural or human caused, and to provide support for
search and rescue operations for persons and property in disasters.
"Emergency management organization" means the staff element responsible for the
coordination of Grant County planning and preparation for disaster response. This organization
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provides liaison and coordination with federal, state, and local jurisdictions relative to disaster
preparedness activities and assures implementation of federal and state program requirements.
"Emergency worker" means any person who is registered with a local emergency
management organization or the department and holds an identification card issued by a local
emergency management director or the department for the purpose of engaging in authorized
emergency response, management and recovery activities or is an employee of the state of
Washington or any political subdivision thereof who is called upon to perform emergency
management activities. Use of emergency workers is governed by chapter 118 -04 WAC.
An architect registered under chapter 18.08 RCW or a professional engineer registered
under chapter 18.43 RCW, are considered emergency workers. Registration is a prerequisite
for eligibility for emergency workers for benefits and legal protection under chapter 38.52
RCW. Registration includes classification of approved emergency workers under categories
established in chapter 118-04/118-80 WAC, chapter 3 8.5 2 RCW.
"Executive head and/or executive heads" means the county executive in those counties
with an elective office of county executive, however designated, and in the case of other
counties, the county legislative authority known as the board of county commissioners. In the
case of cities and towns, it means the mayor, the city manager/administrator, in those cities and
towns with council management form of government. Cities and towns may also designate an
executive head for the purpose of this chapter by ordinance.
"Local organization for emergency management" means an organization created in
accordance with the provisions of this chapter by state or local authority to perform local
emergency management functions.
"Political subdivision" means any county, city or town situated within the state of
Washington.
2.32.020 - Emergency management organization.
Emergency management evolved from the civil defense program established by prior
-'-Operations Division
county ordinance. Grant County Sheriff s Office Emergency ALV4ffl4ALaLVabg%emJL2 a %olavl
continues to serve the rural areas of Grant County as well as the fourteen incorporated cities
and towns within Grant County. The mission of emergency management is to provide for the
effective direction, control and coordination of county government, emergency response
agencies, and to provide liaison with other governments and the private sector, in compliance
with an approved emergency management plan. As directed by chapter 3 8.52 RCW, Grant
County accepts the lead responsibility to provide an emergency management program.
Incorporated cities and towns are considered partners in the county program and may formally
adopt the comprehensive emergency management plan ("CEMP"). Adoption of the plan
establishes compliance with chapter 38.52 RCW for the cities and towns, and strengthens their
local commitment to better preparedness. Political subdivisions are assessed annually for their
share of the emergency management program costs based upon their populations.
Emergency management is organized under the National Response Framework and the
Incident Command System (ICS).
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The Grant County Sheriff shall also serve as the director of emergency management, and
appoints a chief deputy of emergency=-LL.L.A:Lm..A,aemLL..e.flAI operations to serve as his deputy director for
-nt operations division. The chief deputy
the day to day operations of the emergency.LmL-.,A.4.PLLA.,Ia,.R,1.4L.L=.L.Q.,L.L...I 0
of emergency .LmL.L.A...:.nL:,4,.,cxemeint
=0 LA operations gathers significant information on emergency situations,
and provides the chief elected officials with recommendations to proclaim a declaration of
emergency. The Sheriff may hire supporting personnel to conduct planning and coordination of
emergency management activities.
The chief deputy of emergency mLLXLa,:R.a,aemen4I aerations and staff are prepared to follow
ft
the chain of command of county government and to report to and activate the emergency
operations center (EOC) for the coordination of resources for response and emergency
planning for protection of the public when necessary.
2.32.030 - Emergency management—Duties.
(a)
Prepare a comprehensive plan and program for the emergency management of the
county pursuant to state law, and to submit the plan and program including, but not limited to,
elements addressing mitigation activities, preparedness, responses to disasters and
emergencies, and recovery operations to the state director of emergency management for the
director's recommendations thereof and certification for consistency with the state
comprehensive emergency management plan in order to ensure that local emergency
operations are coordinated with the state plan and program.
(b)
The director of emergency management, in collaboration with other public and private
agencies within the county, develop or cause to be developed, mutual aid agreements for
reciprocal emergency management aid and assistance in case of disaster too great to be dealt
with unassisted. Such arrangements must be consistent with the county comprehensive
emergency management plan and program, and in times of emergency it is the duty of each
local organization to render assistance in accordance with the provisions of such mutual aid
agreements.
(c)
The director shall make studies and surveys of the manpower, industries, resources and
facilities of the county as deemed necessary to determine their adequacy for emergency
management and to plan for their most efficient use in time of an emergency or disaster. The
director of emergency management shall establish workforce and planning groups required in
accordance with state and federal plans and directions subject to approval of the board.
(d)
The director shall prepare a comprehensive emergency management plan for the
emergency preparedness of the county to include the incorporated municipal and
unincorporated areas and shall present such plan to the board for its approval. When the board
has approved the plan by resolution, it shall be the duty of all Grant County agencies,
departments and emergency preparedness forces of the county to perform the duties and
functions assigned by the plan as approved. The plan maybe modified in like manner from
time to time.
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(e)
To development and maintain a county hazard identification and vulnerability
assessment or a threat hazard identification risk assessment.
To support coordination of the response to and recovery from activities during and
following a disaster.
(g)
To develop and maintain an active public education program, both through direct public
presentations and contact with the local news media.
(h)
To develop an exercise and training program and test the capability of the county to
implement the emergency management plans by exercise or drills.
(i)
To develop, coordinate and maintain a county hazard warning and notification system.
(j) Gain and maintain compliance with the National Incident Management System criteria
2.32.040 - Local emergency management financial.
A county or municipality shall be eligible to receive [federal disaster] funds if the local
emergency management organization has met all state and federal requirements to receive such
funds. Qualifications include: legal establishment of an emergency management organization
by local ordinance or resolution; an appointed local director; an approved emergency and
disaster plan with all applicable annexes [Emergency Support Functions]; and an approved
fiscal year program and other necessary compliance documents.
2.32.060 - Emergency regulations.
(a)
Whenever necessary to meet a declared emergency or to prepare for such an emergency
the may, by resolution, promulgate regulations, consistent with applicable federal or state law
or regulation, respecting: the conduct of persons and the use of property during emergencies;
the repair, maintenance, and safeguarding of essential public services, emergency health, fire,
and safety regulation, drills, or practice periods required for preliminary training, and all other
matters with are required to protect public safety, heath, and welfare in declared emergencies.
(b)
Every resolution of emergency regulations shall be in writing; shall be dated; shall refer
to the particular emergency to which it pertains. The board may rescind such regulation by
resolution at any time. If not rescinded sooner, every such regulation shall expire at the end of
thirty days after its effective date or at the end of the emergency to which it relates, whichever
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come[s] first. Any resolution, rule or regulation inconsistent with period of time and to the
extent such conflict exists.
(c)
When implementing instructions (such as standard operating procedures (SOPS) or
other operating plans) are written or updated by departments, cities, towns, or other entities
covered by the Grant County F:imiQ=QciQ;mr-u 0:niQr-AiiO4qqComprehensive EmerRency ManaRement
Plan, a copy of these plans are to [be] given to the emergency management director who will
place a copy in the Grant County Emergency Operations Center to enhance coordination.
2.32.070 - Participation in labor dispute or politics.
The emergency management organization shall not participate in any form of political
activity, nor shall it be employed directly or indirectly for political purposes, nor shall it be
employed in a labor dispute.
2.32.080 - No private liability.
(a)
There shall be no liability on the part of anyone including any person, partnership,
corporation, the county of Grant or any political subdivision thereof, who owns or maintains
any building or premises which have been designated by a local organization for emergency
management as a shelter from destructive operations or attacks by enemies of the United States
for any injuries sustained by any person while in or upon said building or premises, as a result
of the condition of said building or premises or as a result of any act or omission, or in any
way arising from the designation of such premises as a shelter, when such person has entered
or gone upon or into said building or premises for the purpose of seeking refuge therein during
destructive operations or attacks by enemies of the United States or during tests ordered by
lawful authority, except for an act of willful negligence by such owner or occupant or his
servants, agents, or employees. Any requirement for a license to practice any professional,
mechanical or other skill shall not apply to any authorized emergency worker who shall, in the
course of performing his duties as such, practice such professional, mechanical or other skill
during an emergency described in this chapter.
(b)
The provisions of this section shall not affect the right of any person to receive benefits
to which he would otherwise be entitled under this chapter, or under the workers' compensation
law, or under any pension or retirement law, nor the right of any such person to receive any
benefits or compensation under any act of congress.
2.32.090 - Phases of emergency operations.
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The department shall operate in a professional manner and conduct normal business and
practices as the current situation allows. The following are specific phases of operations to
which the department will conduct emergency operations.
LeveII—Monitoring
Incidents are handled by the emergency management staff in cooperation with other local
or state agencies. Other staff may be involved as advisors if needed for specific expertise.
a;q b "iq o o2d Ono2ps4tioQn 44 loapt 91 r1r1131
-&-i 1 911 Level H—Partial Activation
An incident is or could potentially grow beyond the capability of the staff to handle. In
this instance the emergency manager, along with select staff, are tasked to support the incident
from the county EOC.
During this, the emergency manager will continue to monitor and process other requests
for assistance, separate from the incident that has caused activation of the EOC.
6,.peffitienLevel III Full Activation
An incident's size and complexity requires representation in the EOC by all appropriate
county, cities,, towns, outside agencies, and organizations to support expanded operations. The
number of staff and the agencies represented will vary by incident. In this phase, the level of
activity dictates that normal emergency management staff functions cease and all personnel
respond in support of the incident, performing functions in accordance with position checklists
and previous EOC training. As the event becomes more defined, staffing levels may be
adjusted.
2.32.100 - Shelters.
No individual, firm, association, corporation, or other party, owning, maintaining or
controlling any building or premises who voluntarily and without compensation grants to the
county a license or privilege or otherwise permits the county to inspect, designate and use the
whole or any part or parts of such building or premises for the purpose of sheltering people
during an actual, impeding emergency or disaster, or their successors in interest, or the agents
or employees of any of them, shall be subject to liability for injuries sustained by any person
while in or upon said building or premises as a result of the condition of said building or
premises or as a result of -any act or omission in connection with the upkeep or maintenance
thereof, (except a willful act or misconduct) when such person has entered or gone into or upon
said building or premises for the purpose of seeking refuge therein during emergency or
disaster events.
2.32.110 - Severability.
If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is held
invalid, the remainder of the chapter or the application of the provision to other persons or
circumstances shall not be affected.
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