New Hampshire § 21-P-39 - Section 21-P:39 Local Organization for Emergency Management.

§ 21-P-39. Section 21-P:39 Local Organization for Emergency Management.

I. Each political subdivision of the state shall establish a local organization for emergency management in accordance with the state emergency management plan and program. Each local organization for emergency management shall have a local director who shall be appointed and removed by the county commissioners of a county, the city council of a city, or board of selectmen of a town, and who shall have direct responsibility for the organization, administration and operation of such local organization for emergency management, subject to the direction and control of such appointing officials. Each local organization shall have jurisdiction only within its respective political subdivision, and the director appointed by that political subdivision shall be responsible to his or her appointing authority. The appointing authority may appoint one of its own members or any other citizen or official to act as local director and shall notify the state director in writing of such appointment. If a local director is removed, the state director shall be notified immediately. Each local organization for emergency management shall perform emergency management functions within the territorial limits of the political subdivision within which it is organized. II. Until a local director has been appointed, the chief elected official shall be directly responsible for the organization, administration, and operation of such local organization for emergency management. III. In carrying out the provisions of this subdivision, each political subdivision in which any disaster as described in RSA 21-P:35, V occurs may enter into contracts and incur obligations necessary to combat such disaster, protecting the health and safety of persons and property, and providing emergency assistance to the victims of such disaster. Each political subdivision may exercise the powers vested under this section in the light of the exigencies of the extreme emergency situation without regard to time-consuming procedures and formalities prescribed by law, excepting mandatory constitutional requirements, pertaining to the performance of public work, entering into contracts, the incurring of obligations, the employment of temporary workers, the rental of equipment, the purchase of supplies and materials, and the appropriation and expenditure of public funds. IV. In carrying out the provisions of this subdivision, each political subdivision in which any disaster as described in RSA 21-P:35, V occurs may meet at any place within or without the territorial limits of such political subdivision and shall proceed to establish and designate by ordinance, resolution, or other manner, alternate or substitute sites or places as the emergency temporary location or locations of such government where all or any part of the public business may be transacted and conducted during the emergency situation. Such sites or places may be within or without the territorial limits of such political subdivision, but shall be within this state.