TOWN OF SIMSBURY
DRAFT ORDINANCE CONCERNING DECLARATION
OF LOCAL DISASTER OR EMERGENCY

Section 1.  Authorization.  This Ordinance is adopted pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes, Section 28-1 and 28-8a, as amended.

Section 2.  Declaration of Local Disaster or Emergency.  The First Selectman, or in his or her absence or incapacity the Deputy First Selectman, or in his or her absence the Board of Selectmen, acting pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes, Section 28-8a, is authorized to declare a local disaster or emergency when there exists within the Town of Simsbury conditions constituting a “major disaster,” or “emergency,” as those terms are defined by Connecticut General Statutes, Section 28-1.

Section 3.  Effect of Declaration.  Upon the issuance of such declaration, the First Selectman, or in his or her absence or incapacity, the Board of Selectmen, in conjunction with the Emergency Management Director, shall exercise all the powers and authority granted to the municipality and/or its chief executive officer under Connecticut General Statutes, Chapter 517, as amended.

Section 4.  National Incident Management System (“NIMS”).  Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes, Chapter 517, Governor Rell’s Executive Order No. 10 (September 19, 2005), and the Homeland Security Act of 2002, P.L. 107-296, the Town of Simsbury adopts the National Incident Management System (“NIMS”) as promulgated and revised by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as the standard for incident management within the Town of Simsbury.

Section 5.  Activation of Emergency Operation Center.  Upon the declaration of disaster or emergency, the First Selectman is authorized to activate the Emergency Operations Center, open one or more emergency shelters, designate evacuation routes and take such action as is necessary to protect public health and safety.

Section 6.  Effective Date.  This Ordinance shall take effect twenty-one (21) days after publication.

Published: ______________________________ on ______________, 2008
EFFECTIVE DATE:  _________________________, 2008
SIMSBURY TOWN RECORDS:  VOLUME ______, PAGES _________