2.36.040 Emergency or disaster proclamation – specific powers of the executive.
(1) Whenever an emergency or disaster occurs in Snohomish County and results in the death or injury of persons, the destruction of property, and/or threatens the environment, to such an extent as to require, in the judgment of the executive, extraordinary measures to protect the public peace, safety and welfare, the executive may proclaim in writing the existence of such an emergency.
(2) Any proclamation issued by the executive pursuant to the authority of this chapter shall be delivered to all news media within Snohomish County and shall utilize such other available means as are necessary, in the executive’s judgment, to give notice of such proclamation to the public.
(3) In the event of such proclamation as herein provided, the county executive is hereby empowered:
(a) To issue, amend, and rescind orders on matters reasonably related to the protection of life and property as affected by such disaster including but not limited to:
(i) An order directing evacuation or clearing of debris and wreckage caused by an emergency or disaster from publicly and privately owned lands and waters;
(ii) An order imposing and modifying a general curfew applicable to Snohomish County as a whole, or to any geographical area or areas of Snohomish County during any hours, as the executive deems necessary;
(iii) An order requiring any or all business establishments to close and remain closed until a further order;
(iv) An order closing to the public any or all public places including streets, alleys, public ways, schools, parks, beaches, amusement areas and public buildings;
(v) An order temporarily suspending Snohomish County permit procedures for public work projects, as defined by RCW 39.04.010, responding to conditions of the emergency or for restoration of public facilities damages as a result of the emergency, PROVIDED, that all projects must comply with all applicable code requirements; and
(vi) Any other orders as are imminently necessary for the protection of life and property;
(b) To approve contracts and incur obligations necessary to combat such disaster, and in light of the exigencies of an extreme emergency situation without regard to time-consuming procedures and formalities prescribed by law (except mandatory constitutional requirements), as provided in RCW 38.52.070(2);
(c) After proclamation of the existence of such emergency or disaster, to command the service and equipment of as many citizens as considered necessary in light of the disaster proclaimed: PROVIDED, that citizens so commandeered shall be entitled during the period of such service to all privileges, benefits and immunities as are provided by federal and state law for registered emergency workers, as provided in RCW 38.52.110(2);
(d) To execute all of the special powers conferred upon the executive by this chapter, by statute, or by any other lawful authority; and
(e) To requisition necessary personnel or material of any county department or agency.
(4) Any orders issued by the executive pursuant to this chapter shall be published at least once in such form as the executive finds reasonable under the circumstances, filed with the clerk of the council not later than 10:00 a.m. of the second business day after issuance, shall be available for public inspection at the Snohomish County department of emergency management, and shall expire at the end of thirty days after issuance or amendment, whichever is later, unless enacted or terminated by ordinance.
(5) Upon finding that the conditions or circumstances giving rise to an emergency or disaster proclamation issued by the executive have subsided, the county council may terminate such proclamation by ordinance if at least 30 days have elapsed since the date the proclamation issued. (Added by § 6 of Res. adopted Mar. 31, 1958; Amended by Res. 80-136A §§ 1, 4, Apr. 28, 1980; Amended by Ord. 02-104, Jan. 8, 2003, Eff date Jan. 20, 2003; Amended by Ord. 05-123, Nov. 9, 2005, Eff date Jan. 1, 2006; Amended by Amended Ord. 19-027, July 10, 2019, Eff date July 28, 2019).