Emergency action.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-28
in effectSec. 2-28. - Emergency action.
(a) In the event of an extraordinary or catastrophic circumstance, the mayor may order the temporary reassignment of city resources, personnel, or functions of departments for the purposes of performing or facilitating city services. Upon the order of the mayor, the human resources director, in consultation with the appropriate department directors, will issue event-specific procedures, as deemed necessary, to temporarily reassign city personnel to perform other duties as required to facilitate or perform city services. Reassignment may include, but is not limited to: changed work schedules or shifts, and performance of other duties as needed. In the event of an extraordinary or catastrophic circumstance, temporary reassignment of city employees shall not be subject to review by the civil service commission.
(b) Every officer, agent or employee of the city, when acting within the course and scope of his employment and while responding to emergency calls or reacting to emergency situations, is hereby authorized to act in such a manner as to deal reasonably and effectively with the emergency. Neither the city nor its officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any failure to use ordinary care in such emergency.
(c) This section shall prevail, to the extent allowed by law, over any other law establishing a standard of care in conflict with this section.
(Ord. No. 86-838, § 1, 6-3-86; Ord. No. 05-1076, § 1, 9-14-05)
Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTIIOFEMGE_DIV1GE_S2-28EMACFetched: 10/26/2026