Oklahoma § 63-683.2 - Findings and declarations

§ 63-683.2. Findings and declarations

A. Because of the existing and increasing possibility of the

occurrence of disasters of unprecedented size and destructiveness

resulting from natural and man-made causes, in order to ensure that

preparations of this state will adequately deal with such disasters

and emergencies, to generally provide for the common defense and to

protect the public peace, health, and safety, to preserve the lives

and property of the people of this state, and to carry out the

objectives of state and national survival and recovery in the event

of a disaster or emergency, it is hereby found and declared to be

necessary to:

1. Create the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

(OEM);

2. Authorize the creation of local organizations for emergency

management in the counties and incorporated municipalities of this

state;

3. Provide for the formulation and execution of an emergency

operations plan for the state. A component of the plan shall be

response to a catastrophic health emergency as defined in Section

6104 of this title;

4. Confer upon the Governor and upon the executive heads or

governing bodies of the political subdivisions of the state the

emergency powers provided by the Oklahoma Emergency Management Act

of 2003;

5. Provide for the rendering of mutual aid among the political

subdivisions of this state and with other states to cooperate with

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 63. Public Health and Safety

the federal government with respect to carrying out emergency

management functions and hazard mitigation; and

6. Provide sufficient organization to meet, prevent or reduce

emergencies in the general interest and welfare of the public and

this state.

B. It is further declared to be the purpose of the Oklahoma

Emergency Management Act of 2003 and the policy of this state that

all emergency management and hazard mitigation functions of this

state be coordinated to the maximum extent with the comparable

functions of the federal government, including its various

departments and agencies, of other states and localities, and of

private agencies of every type, to the end that the most effective

preparation and use may be made of available workforce, resources

and facilities for dealing with disaster and hazard mitigation.

C. It is also directed that each state agency, board,

commission, department or other state entity having responsibilities

either indicated in the state Emergency Operations Plan or by the

nature of the service it provides to the citizens of Oklahoma shall

have written plans and procedures in place to protect individual

employees, administrators and visitors from natural and man-made

disasters and emergencies occurring at the work place. Plans and

procedures shall be in concurrence with the Oklahoma Department of

Emergency Management Guidebook titled “Emergency Standard Operating

Procedures” for state departments, agencies, offices and employees.

Each state agency, board, commission, department or other state

entity shall provide a calendar year annual report on the status of

their emergency management program to OEM. OEM shall compile and

integrate all reports into a report to the Governor and Legislature

on the status of state emergency preparedness.

D. Each state agency, board, commission, department or other

state entity shall have written plans and procedures in place to

support the responsibilities stated in the state Emergency

Operations Plan.

E. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) shall be the

standard for incident management in the State of Oklahoma. All onscene management of disasters and emergencies shall be conducted

using the Incident Command System (ICS).

Added by Laws 1967, c. 33, § 2, emerg. eff. Feb. 14, 1967. Amended

by Laws 1976, c. 135, § 1, emerg. eff. May 24, 1976; Laws 1984, c.

113, § 1, eff. July 1, 1984; Laws 1999, c. 57, § 2, eff. July 1,

1999; Laws 2003, c. 329, § 4, emerg. eff. May 29, 2003; Laws 2006,

c. 199, § 1, emerg. eff. May 26, 2006; Laws 2023, c. 207, § 1, eff.

Nov. 1, 2023.