CIVIL DEFENSE EMERGENCIES

Oklahoma City Municipal Code ch. 15, art. II

in effect

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 15-16 Definitions.

§ 15-16. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: (1) Civil defense or emergency management means the preparation for and the carrying out of all emergency functions, other than functions for which the military services are primarily responsible, by organized and trained volunteer civilian persons, who will extend existent governmental functions and provide other necessary nongovernmental functions, as listed below, to prevent, minimize and repair injury and damage resulting from enemy attack, sabotage, or other hostile action, or disasters caused by fire, flood, tornado, earthquake, or other causes developing to such an extent to cause an extreme emergency situation to arise which by declaration of the Governor jeopardizes the welfare of the citizens of this State. These functions include, without limitation, firefighting services, police services, medical and health services, rescue, engineering, air raid warning services, communications, radiological, chemical and other special weapons of defense, evacuations of persons from stricken areas, emergency welfare services (civilian war aid), emergency transportation, existing or properly assigned functions of plant protection, integration of industry emergency plans into civil defense plans, assistance to private and public utility companies in the temporary restoration of public utility services, and other functions related to civilian protection, together with all other activities necessary or incidental to the preparation for and carrying out of the foregoing functions. (2) Director means the Director of Civil Defense and Emergency Management. (3) Disaster or civil defense or disaster emergency means any state of emergency caused by enemy attack upon the United States or a state of emergency declared by the President of the United States or the Governor of Oklahoma upon the occurrence of an attack upon the United States or when such attack is imminent or when an emergency is caused by a disaster, natural or manmade. (4) Emergency management includes the activities and measures undertaken by a state, or one of its political subdivisions, to manage a "civil defense program" as defined and provided for by the Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950, as amended, including Title V, added by Public Law 96-342, and Section 207, added by Public Law 97-86. (5) A "state of emergency" shall be deemed to exist whenever, by reason of any disaster, such state of emergency is legally proclaimed by proper authority as provided in this article, and such state of emergency shall continue until terminated by proclamation of proper authority as provided by this article. (Code 1970, § 10-1; Code 1980, § 15-16; Ord. No. 19033, § 2, 7-12-88)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 15-17 Director, generally.

§ 15-17. - Director, generally. The Director shall serve as executive head of emergency management and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the City Manager. (Code 1970, § 10-2; Ord. No. 16714, § 1, 6-22-82; Code 1980, § 15-17; Ord. No. 19033, § 3, 7-12-88)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 15-18 Planning, training, etc., functions of Director.

§ 15-18. - Planning, training, etc., functions of Director. Prior to an emergency, and within the limits of any funds appropriated or received by grant therefor, the Director shall: (1) prepare an operational plan of the departments of City government which shall provide a coordinated assignment of activities and responsibilities to each department in the event of a disaster or state of emergency as provided in this article. (2) establish necessary emergency operations centers. (3) establish public warning systems and acquire and cause to be installed such devices as may be necessary to implement such systems. (4) establish and carry out recruitment and training programs for purposes of developing qualified civil defense and emergency management volunteer workers. (5) plan, supervise, and conduct drills and exercises under simulated disaster conditions. (6) develop and maintain mutual aid arrangements for reciprocal civil defense assistance consistent with State and Federal plans of civil defense and emergency management. (7) develop and coordinate a public shelter system to include identification, marking and stocking. (Code 1970, § 10-3; Code 1980, § 15-18; Ord. No. 19033, § 4, 7-12-88)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 15-19 General powers of Director during emergencies.

§ 15-19. - General powers of Director during emergencies. (a) If an actual emergency is proclaimed by the City Manager or the City Council, as provided in this article, the Director, with the approval of the City Manager or City Council as provided in this article, may exercise the power to enforce all rules and regulations relating to civil defense and emergency management during such emergency. (b) If the Director is acting under the authority of the City Manager as an agent of the Governor of this State, then the Director may take control of all means of transportation and communications, all stocks of fuel, food, clothing, medicine and supplies and all facilities including buildings and plants, and exercise all powers necessary to secure the safety and protection of the civilian population, to the extent necessary as provided by law. (c) In exercising such powers the Director shall be guided by regulations and orders issued by the Federal government and the Governor of this State relating to civil defense and emergency management and shall take no action contrary to orders which may be issued by the Governor under similar emergency powers. (Code 1970, § 10-5; Code 1980, § 15-19; Ord. No. 19033, § 5, 7-12-88)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 15-20 Other functions of Director.

§ 15-20. - Other functions of Director. (a) The Director shall properly coordinate the activities of emergency management. He is specifically charged in such emergency with the collection, evaluation and dissemination of information to all agencies, both public and private, participating or cooperating in any such emergency. (b) The Director shall have the power to recommend appropriate action, but he shall not otherwise exercise control over the participating agencies. (c) The Director shall recommend to the City Council the allocation of any funds received from the Federal or State governments or from any other source to alleviate distress and aid in restoring normal conditions. (Code 1970, § 10-6; Code 1980, § 15-20; Ord. No. 19033, § 6, 7-12-88)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 15-21 Procedures for adoption of emergency operations plan.

§ 15-21. - Procedures for adoption of emergency operations plan. Before an emergency operations plan may be adopted, it shall be forwarded to the Mayor and Council, for consideration. Upon adoption by the Council of a resolution approving the emergency operations plan as the official plan of organization for the performance of civil defense and emergency management activities in the City, the plan shall be in effect. (Code 1970, § 10-4; Ord. No. 16714, § 7, 6-22-82; Code 1980, § 15-22; Ord. No. 19033, § 8, 7-12-88)

Oklahoma City Municipal Code § 15-22 Authorization and termination of emergency powers.

§ 15-22. - Authorization and termination of emergency powers. (a) The emergency powers conferred in this article shall be effective immediately upon the issuance of a proclamation of the existence of emergency: (1) by a proper officer or agency of the State as provided by law; or (2) by resolution of the City Council if the Council finds that the disaster causing the emergency is local to the City and its environs and is locally controllable, and it is so noted in the resolution. (b) If the urgency of the situation requires, the City Manager is authorized to declare the existence of emergency until such time as the City Council may meet and determine that a state of emergency exists. The exercise of the emergency powers conferred in this article is limited to the duration of emergency as determined according to law and by the provisions of this article. (c) During the period of such local emergency the exercise of emergency powers shall be in conformity with all applicable provisions of the City Charter. (d) Locally proclaimed states of emergency shall be terminated upon adoption by the City Council of a resolution of termination not in conflict with State laws. (Code 1970, § 10-7; Code 1980, § 15-23)

Source: City of Oklahoma City, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ok/oklahoma_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=OKMUCO2020_CH15CIDEEMMA_ARTIICIDEEMFetched: 10/28/2026