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Powers and duties - 35 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7313

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     § 7313.  Powers and duties.
        The agency shall have the following powers and duties:
            (1)  To prepare, maintain and keep current a Pennsylvania
        Emergency Management Plan for the prevention and minimization
        of injury and damage caused by disaster, prompt and effective
        response to disaster and disaster emergency relief and
        recovery. The plan may include provisions for:
                (i)  Preparedness standards established by the
            Federal Emergency Management Agency.
                (ii)  Commonwealth and local disaster emergency
            management responsibilities.
                (iii)  Assistance to Commonwealth agencies, local
            government officials, schools and custodial child care
            facilities in designing emergency management plans and
            training programs.
                (iv)  Organization of manpower, chains of command,
            continuity of government in emergency situations and
            emergency operational principles.
                (v)  Coordination of Federal, Commonwealth and local
            disaster emergency management activities.
                (vi)  Coordination of the Commonwealth Emergency
            Management Plan with the disaster plans of the Federal
            Government and those of other states.
                (vii)  Assistance to the Commonwealth and local
            governments in obtaining, utilizing and managing Federal
            and Commonwealth disaster assistance.
                (viii)  Supply to appropriate Commonwealth and local
            officials State catalogs of Federal, Commonwealth and
            private assistance programs.
                (ix)  Identification of areas particularly vulnerable
            to disasters.
                (x)  Recommendations for zoning, building and other
            land-use controls; safety measures pertaining to
            nonpermanent or semipermanent structures; resource
            conservation and allocation; and other preventive and
            preparedness measures designed to eliminate or reduce
            disasters or their impact.
                (xi)  Authorization and procedures for the erection
            or other construction of temporary works designed to
            protect against or mitigate danger, damage or loss from
            flood, conflagration or other disaster.
            (2)  To establish, equip and staff a Commonwealth and
        area emergency operations center with a consolidated
        Statewide system of warning and provide a system of disaster
        communications integrated with those of Federal, Commonwealth
        and local agencies involved in disaster emergency operations.
            (3)  To promulgate, adopt and enforce such rules,
        regulations and orders as may be deemed necessary to carry
        out the provisions of this part.
            (4)  To provide technical advice and assistance to
        Commonwealth agencies, political subdivisions, schools and
        custodial child care facilities in the preparation of
        disaster emergency management plans or components thereof and
        to periodically review such plans and suggest or require
        revisions.
            (5)  To establish and operate or assist political
        subdivisions in establishing and operating training programs
        and programs of public information.
            (6)  To supply appropriate Commonwealth and local
        agencies and officials and the general public with
        precautionary notices, watches and warnings relating to
        actual and potential disasters and to provide a flow of
        official information and instructions to the general public
        through all means available before, during and after an
        emergency. The agency shall implement a program of integrated
        flood warning systems among political subdivisions. The
        agency shall establish coordinated flood notification and
        early warning systems along prescribed major river basins and
        selected tributaries thereof in this Commonwealth.
            (7)  To provide emergency direction and control of
        Commonwealth and local emergency operations.
            (8)  To determine the need for, maintain information
        regarding and procure materials, supplies, equipment,
        facilities and services necessary for disaster emergency
        readiness, response and recovery.
            (9)  To make or request of Commonwealth or local agencies
        and officials, studies, surveys and reports as are necessary
        to carry out the purposes of this part.
            (10)  To plan and make arrangements for the availability
        and use of any private facilities, services and property and,
        if necessary and if in fact used, provide for payment for use
        under terms and conditions agreed upon.
            (11)  To prepare, for issuance by the Governor, executive
        orders, proclamations and regulations as necessary or
        appropriate in coping with disasters.
            (12)  To cooperate with the Federal Government and any
        public or private agency or entity in achieving any purpose
        of this part and in implementing programs for disaster
        prevention, preparation, response and recovery.
            (13)  To administer grant programs to political
        subdivisions for disaster management.
            (14)  To accept and coordinate assistance provided by
        Federal agencies in major disasters or emergencies in
        accordance with the provisions of The Robert T. Stafford
        Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 93-
        288, 42 U.S.C. § 5121 et seq.), or any amendment or
        reenactment thereof.
            (15)  To respond to disaster relating to atomic energy
        operations or radioactive objects or materials. Any such
        action taken and any regulations adopted by the office shall
        be inapplicable to any objects or materials possessing a
        radiation-producing capacity less than that set forth as the
        maximum safety limit by the standards endorsed and as may be
        subsequently endorsed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory
        Commission for the protection of life and property and the
        maintenance of health and safety.
            (16)  To take other action necessary, incidental or
        appropriate for the implementation of this part.
            (17)  To report annually to the General Assembly the
        state of preparedness of the Commonwealth to deal with attack
        or disaster and those significant events occurring within the
        past year.
            (18)  To recommend to the Governor legislation or other
        actions as deemed necessary in connection with the purposes
        of this part.
            (19)  To provide, from its own stockpiles or other
        sources, emergency operational equipment, materials and
        supplies required and available for essential supplementation
        of those owned, acquired and used by Commonwealth, county and
        local departments and agencies for attack and disaster
        operations. The agency shall establish two regional emergency
        supply warehouses. One shall be located in the western part
        of this Commonwealth, and one shall be located in the eastern
        part of this Commonwealth.
            (20)  For the period during which an emergency is
        declared by the Governor, to incur obligations for or
        purchase such materials and supplies as may be necessary to
        combat a disaster, protect the health and safety of persons
        and property and provide emergency assistance to victims of a
        disaster without complying with formal bidding or other time-
        consuming contract procedures.
            (21)  To require hydroelectric generating facilities and
        dam operators to do all of the following:
                (i)  Provide minimum competency testing for their
            operators.
                (ii)  Submit plans for flood notification and
            warning.
     (July 13, 1988, P.L.501, No.87, eff. imd.; May 31, 1996, 2nd
     Sp.Sess., P.L.1762, No.2, eff. imd.; July 13, 2004, P.L.689,
     No.73, eff. 60 days)

        2004 Amendment.  Act 73 amended pars. (1)(iii) and (4).
        1996 Amendment.  Act 2, 2nd Sp.Sess., amended par. (14).
        1988 Amendment.  Act 87 amended pars. (6), (19) and (20) and
     added par. (21).
        Cross References.  Section 7313 is referred to in sections
     7301, 7320, 7503 of this title.

Last modified: November 27, 2007