§ 2-68. Civil defense and emergency preparedness plan.

(a)

The preparedness plan for emergency operations shall meet the standards and criteria for integrated emergency management in accordance with the Vermilion Parish Civil Defense Guide and based upon the hazard/vulnerability/capability analysis conducted for the political subdivisions indicated in this article, and shall conform with state and federal planning guidance.

(b)

The preparedness plan, its annexes, appendices and attachments shall be approved by resolution of the city council and the parish police jury upon the recommendation of the mayor and the president of the police jury of the above cited political subdivisions.

(c)

Upon approval, the preparedness plan and its annexes, appendices and attachments shall be considered supplementary to this article and shall have the effect of law whenever a disaster, as defined in this article, has been proclaimed.

(d)

Each service chief and department head assigned responsibility in the preparedness plan shall be responsible for carrying out all duties and functions therein. Such responsibilities and duties shall include:

(1)

The preparation, in coordination with the coordinator, of an operational plan for his service, agency or department which, when approved, shall be annexed to and be a part of the basic plan;

(2)

Organization and training of assigned agency, departmental and auxiliary personnel or volunteers to support the operation of regular departmental personnel; and

(3)

Essential staffing of the emergency operations center and communications center upon activation of the emergency operations center as the result of an actual or imminent disaster emergency in accordance with the approved staffing pattern in the basic plan.

(e)

All duty assignments under the plan such as services, equipment, facilities and manpower of all agencies and departments of local government shall be utilized to the fullest extent, and it shall be the duty of all agencies and departments to perform the functions assigned by the plan and to maintain their portion of the plan in a current state of readiness.

(f)

Amendments to the basic preparedness plan shall be submitted to the coordinator. If approved, the coordinator will submit the amendments to the mayor and the president of the police jury for appropriate action by the city council and the police jury. Such amendments shall take effect thirty (30) days from the date of approval, unless action is taken by the city council and the police jury disapproving the coordinator's submission. In the event an amendment is pending at the time a disaster is proclaimed under the provisions of this article, the amendment will be considered approved immediately and will remain in effect unless specifically revoked by the city council and the police jury.

(g)

When a required competency or skill for a disaster function is not available within the city or parish government, the coordinator is authorized to seek assistance from persons outside of government. The assignment of duties, when of a supervisory nature, shall grant authority for the person so assigned to carry out such duties prior to, during and after the occurrence of a disaster. Such services from persons outside of government may be accepted by the city and the parish on a volunteer basis. Such persons shall be enrolled as civil defense volunteers in cooperation with the head of the city and parish agencies and departments affected.

(Ord. No. 84-05A, § 5A-6, 5-15-84)

State law reference

Similar provisions, R.S. 29:611.

Cross reference

Planning and development, Ch. 14.