Skip to main content
Loading…
This section is included in your selections.

(1) The director is empowered to request the county executive or, in his/her absence, the temporary interim successor, to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of an emergency or disaster and termination thereof, and the director may further issue such proclamation if the county executive or the temporary interim successor is not available, subject to confirmation by the county executive at the earliest practicable time.

(2) When, in the opinion of the director, the resources of the area or region are inadequate to cope with the disaster, the director is empowered to request the county executive or, in his/her absence, the temporary interim successor, to request the governor to proclaim a state of emergency, and the director may further make such request if the county executive or the temporary interim successor is not available, subject to confirmation by the county executive at the earliest practicable time.

(3) In the event of a proclamation as provided in this section or a presidential emergency or major disaster declaration, the director is empowered:

(a) To issue, amend, and rescind orders on matters reasonably related to the protection of life and property as affected by such disaster as provided for in SCC 2.36.040 and subject to confirmation by the county executive, or temporary interim successor, at the earliest practicable time;

(b) Subject to the approval of the executive or, in his/her absence, the temporary interim successor if available, 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); PROVIDED, that in the immediate aftermath of an emergency or disaster, and in order to facilitate the availability of life-saving resources, the director may approve contracts and incur obligations up to $2,000,000, subject to confirmation by the county executive, or temporary interim successor, at the earliest practicable time;

(c) After proclamation by the governor of the existence of such 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); and

(d) To requisition necessary personnel or material of any county department or agency. (Added by Amended Ord. 19-027, July 10, 2019, Eff date July 28, 2019).