Oklahoma § 63-683.9 - Natural or man-made emergency - Additional powers of

§ 63-683.9. Natural or man-made emergency - Additional powers of

Governor.

The provisions of this section shall be operative only during

the existence of a natural or man-made emergency. The existence of

such emergency may be proclaimed by the Governor or by concurrent

resolution of the Legislature if the Governor in such proclamation,

or the Legislature in such resolution, finds that an emergency or

disaster has occurred or is anticipated in the immediate future.

Any such emergency, whether proclaimed by the Governor or by the

Legislature, shall terminate upon the proclamation of the

termination thereof by the Governor, or by passage by the

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 63. Public Health and Safety

Legislature of a concurrent resolution terminating such emergency.

During such period as such state of emergency exists or continues,

the Governor shall have and may exercise the following additional

emergency powers:

1. To activate the Emergency Operations Plan, and to assume

regulatory control over all essential resources of this state,

directly or through the boards, agencies, offices and officers

established by the Emergency Operations Plan, to determine

priorities of such resources and allocate such resources as the

Governor may deem necessary in cooperation with the political

subdivisions of this state, the federal government or other states.

For purposes of this paragraph:

a.

“resources” means all economic resources within this

state including, but not limited to, food, manpower,

health, water, transportation, economic stabilization,

electric power, petroleum, gas, solid fuel, industrial

production, construction and housing, and

b.

“economic stabilization” means the maintaining of the

monetary, taxation, and revenue policies of this state

without a negative effect to the market economy and

its operations and specifically excludes the

determination of essential or nonessential private

business enterprises or the closing of private

business enterprises.

2. To enforce all laws, rules and regulations relating to

emergency management and to assume direct operational control of any

or all emergency management forces and helpers in this state.

3. To provide for the evacuation of all or part of the

population from any stricken or threatened area or areas within this

state and to take such steps as are necessary for the receipt and

care of such evacuees.

4. Subject to the provisions of the Oklahoma Constitution, to

remove from office any public officer having administrative

responsibilities under this act for willful failure to obey any

order, rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this act. Such

removal shall be upon charges after service upon such person of a

copy of such charges and after giving such person an opportunity to

be heard in the defense of such person. Pending the preparation and

disposition of charges, the Governor may suspend such person for a

period not exceeding thirty (30) days. A vacancy resulting from

removal or suspension pursuant to this section shall be filled by

the Governor until it is filled as otherwise provided by law.

5. To perform and exercise such other functions, powers and

duties as are necessary to promote and secure the safety and

protection of the civilian population and to carry out the

provisions of the Emergency Operations Plan in a national or state

emergency.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 63. Public Health and Safety

Added by Laws 1967, c. 33, § 9, emerg. eff. Feb. 14, 1967. Amended

by Laws 2003, c. 329, § 9, emerg. eff. May 29, 2003; Laws 2013, 1st

Ex.Sess., c. 17, § 2, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013; Laws 2013, 1st

Ex.Sess., c. 17, § 3, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013; Laws 2025, c. 7, §

2, eff. July 1, 2025.

NOTE: Laws 2009, c. 78, § 12 repealed by Laws 2010, c. 2, § 52,

emerg. eff. March 3, 2010.

NOTE: Laws 2009, c. 228, § 29 was held unconstitutional by the

Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement

Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013) and repealed

by Laws 2013, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 17, § 1, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013.