§ 14-2. Declaration of local emergency or disaster.

(a)

In the event of actual or impending emergency or disaster of natural or human origin, or pandemic influenza emergency, or impending or actual enemy attack, or a public health emergency, within or affecting this county or against the United States, the board of commissioners or a designee may declare that a state of local emergency or disaster exists. The state of local emergency or disaster shall continue until the board of commissioners finds that the threat or danger has passed or the emergency or disaster has been dealt with, to the extent that emergency or disaster conditions no longer exist, and terminates the state of local emergency or disaster. No state of local emergency or disaster may continue for longer than 30 days unless renewed by the board of commissioners.

(b)

A declaration of a state of local emergency or disaster shall activate the emergency and disaster response and recovery aspects of the local emergency or disaster plans applicable to the county and shall be authority for the deployment and use of any forces to which the plan or plans apply and for use or distribution of any supplies, equipment, and materials and facilities assembled, stockpiled, or arranged to be made available.

(c)

As used in this section, the term "state of local emergency or disaster" means the condition declared by the board of commissioners when, in its judgment, the threat or actual occurrence of a disaster, emergency, or energy emergency in any part of the county is of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant extraordinary assistance by the county to supplement the efforts and available resources of the several localities and relief organizations in preventing or alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering threatened or caused thereby.