Oregon Statutes - Chapter 401 - Emergency Services and Communications - Section 401.025 - Definitions.

As used in ORS 190.155 to 190.170, 401.015 to 401.107, 401.257 to 401.325 and 401.355 to 401.584, unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) “Abnormal disruption of the market” means any human created or natural event or circumstance that causes essential consumer goods or services to be not readily available.

(2) “Beneficiary” has the meaning given that term in ORS 656.005.

(3) “Commission” means the Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission established under ORS 401.337.

(4) “Emergency” means a human created or natural event or circumstance that causes or threatens widespread:

(a) Loss of life;

(b) Injury to person or property;

(c) Human suffering; or

(d) Financial loss.

(5) “Emergency management agency” means an organization created and authorized under ORS 401.015 to 401.107, 401.257 to 401.325 and 401.355 to 401.584 by the state, county or city to provide for and ensure the conduct and coordination of functions for comprehensive emergency program management.

(6) “Emergency program management” includes all the tasks and activities necessary to provide, support and maintain the ability of the emergency services system to prevent or reduce the impact of emergency or disaster conditions which includes, but is not limited to, coordinating development of plans, procedures, policies, fiscal management, coordination with nongovernmental agencies and organizations, providing for a coordinated communications and alert and notification network and a public information system, personnel training and development and implementation of exercises to routinely test the emergency services system.

(7) “Emergency program manager” means the person administering the emergency management agency of a county or city.

(8) “Emergency service agency” means an organization within a local government which performs essential services for the public’s benefit prior to, during or following an emergency. This includes, but is not limited to, organizational units within local governments, such as law enforcement, fire control, health, medical and sanitation services, public works and engineering, public information and communications.

(9) “Emergency service worker” means an individual who, under the direction of an emergency service agency or emergency management agency, performs emergency services and:

(a) Is a registered volunteer or independently volunteers to serve without compensation and is accepted by the Office of Emergency Management or the emergency management agency of a county or city; or

(b) Is a member of the Oregon State Defense Force acting in support of the emergency services system.

(10) “Emergency services” includes those activities provided by state and local government agencies with emergency operational responsibilities to prepare for and carry out any activity to prevent, minimize, respond to or recover from an emergency. These activities include, without limitation, coordination, preparedness planning, training, interagency liaison, fire fighting, oil or hazardous material spill or release cleanup as defined in ORS 466.605, law enforcement, medical, health and sanitation services, engineering and public works, search and rescue activities, warning and public information, damage assessment, administration and fiscal management, and those measures defined as “civil defense” in 50 U.S.C. app. 2252.

(11) “Emergency services system” means that system composed of all agencies and organizations involved in the coordinated delivery of emergency services.

(12) “Essential consumer goods or services” means goods or services that:

(a) Are or may be bought or acquired primarily for personal, family or household purposes, including but not limited to residential construction materials or labor, shelter for payment such as a hotel room, food, water or petroleum products such as gasoline or diesel fuel; and

(b) Are necessary for the health, safety or welfare of consumers.

(13) “Human created or natural event or circumstance” includes, but is not limited to:

(a) Fire, explosion, flood, severe weather, landslides or mud slides, drought, earthquake, volcanic activity, tsunamis or other oceanic phenomena, spills or releases of oil or hazardous material as defined in ORS 466.605, contamination, utility or transportation emergencies, disease, blight, infestation, civil disturbance, riot, sabotage, acts of terrorism and war; and

(b) A rapid influx of individuals from outside this state, a rapid migration of individuals from one part of this state to another or a rapid displacement of individuals if the influx, migration or displacement results from the type of event or circumstance described in paragraph (a) of this subsection.

(14) “Injury” means any personal injury sustained by an emergency service worker by accident, disease or infection arising out of and in the course of emergency services or death resulting proximately from the performance of emergency services.

(15) “Local government” means any governmental entity authorized by the laws of this state.

(16) “Major disaster” means any event defined as a “major disaster” under 42 U.S.C. 5122(2).

(17) “Oregon emergency management plan” means the state emergency preparedness operations and management plan. The Office of Emergency Management is responsible for coordinating emergency planning with government agencies and private organizations, preparing the plan for the Governor’s signature, and maintaining and updating the plan as necessary.

(18) “Search and rescue” means the acts of searching for, rescuing or recovering, by means of ground or marine activity, any person who is lost, injured or killed while out of doors. However, “search and rescue” does not include air activity in conflict with the activities carried out by the Oregon Department of Aviation.

(19) “Sheriff” means the chief law enforcement officer of a county. [1983 c.586 §2; 1985 c.733 §21; 1987 c.373 §84; 1989 c.361 §8; 1991 c.418 §1; 1991 c.956 §10; 1993 c.187 §1; 1999 c.935 §29; 2005 c.825 §9; 2007 c.97 §10; 2007 c.223 §5; 2007 c.740 §20]

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Last modified: August 7, 2008