§ 9-26. 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:

Disaster means any tornado, storm, flood, high water, earthquake, drought, fire, radiological incident, airborne or surface-borne toxic or other hazardous material contamination, or other catastrophe, whether caused by natural forces, enemy attack or any other means, which is or threatens to be of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant significant state or federal action to supplement the efforts and available resources of the city and in which the mayor certifies the need for state assistance for alleviating the damage, loss, hardship or suffering resulting from such disaster.

Emergency services means the preparation for and the carrying out of all emergency functions, other than functions for which military forces are primarily responsible; to prevent, minimize, and repair injury and damage resulting from major emergencies or disasters caused by enemy attack, natural causes, manmade catastrophes or civil disturbances. These functions include, without limitation, firefighting; law and order; medical and health; rescue; engineering; warning; communications; radiological, chemical or other special material identification, measurement and decontamination; evacuation and relocation of persons from stricken areas; emergency social services such as housing, feeding and location services; emergency transportation, plant protection, damage assessment and evaluation; temporary restoration of public facilities, debris clearance, and other functions related to the protection of the people and property of the city, together with all other activities necessary or incidental to the preparation for and carrying out of all the foregoing functions.

(Code 1967, § 10-2)