Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-683.11

- Emergency management directors - Declaration of local emergency.

A. All incorporated jurisdictions of this state are required to

develop an emergency management program in accordance with the

Oklahoma Emergency Management Act of 2003. County jurisdictions are

required to have a qualified emergency management director as

outlined in this section. Incorporated municipalities are required

to either have an emergency management director or create an

agreement with the county for emergency management services. Each

local organization for emergency management shall have a director

who shall be appointed by the executive officer or governing body of

the political subdivision, who shall report directly to the chief

executive officer or chief operating officer 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 executive officer or

governing body. Each local organization for emergency management

shall perform emergency management functions within the territorial

limits of the political subdivisions within which it is organized,

and, in addition, shall conduct such functions outside of such

territorial limits as may be required pursuant to this act. Each

local emergency management organization shall develop, maintain and

revise, as necessary, an emergency operations plan for the

jurisdiction. Each plan shall address the emergency management

system functions of preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.

Such plan shall be based upon a hazard and risk assessment for the

jurisdiction and shall include provisions for evacuation of all or a

portion of the jurisdiction based upon such risk in the event any

disaster, as defined in Section 683.3 of this title, necessitates

the evacuation of its citizens. Every political subdivision shall

ensure that there is widespread dissemination of the plan and

information to citizens as to how and when such plan is activated

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and how citizens are to participate in evacuating their communities

in the event of a disaster. The plan shall be reviewed annually.

Such plan shall be coordinated with the state.

B. Emergency Management Directors (EMD) shall meet the

qualifications promulgated by the Oklahoma Department of Emergency

Management (OEM). The minimum qualifications include:

1. U.S. citizenship;

2. High school diploma or equivalent;

3. Valid Oklahoma driver license;

4. Social security number;

5. Has not been convicted of a felony in Oklahoma; and

6. Within one (1) year of appointment, the EMD must complete

basic emergency management training provided by the OEM.

C. Prior to employment, the employing agency shall obtain a

name-based background search by the Oklahoma State Bureau of

Investigation to determine if the EMD has been convicted of a

felony.

D. Each Emergency Management Director shall be responsible for

all aspects of emergency management in their jurisdiction including:

conducting a hazard analysis detailing risks and vulnerabilities,

annually updating the existing all-hazard Emergency Operations Plan

(EOP), conducting and arranging for necessary training of all

relevant personnel, conducting annual exercises to evaluate the

plan, managing resources, determining shortfalls in equipment,

personnel and training, revising the EOP as necessary, establishing

and maintaining an office of emergency management, communications,

warnings, conducting or supervising damage assessment and other pre-

and post-disaster-related duties.

E. Local fire departments, law enforcement and other first

response agencies shall notify the Emergency Management Director of

all significant events occurring in the jurisdiction. Emergency

Management Directors shall promptly report significant events to the

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.
ducting or supervising damage assessment and other pre-

and post-disaster-related duties.

E. Local fire departments, law enforcement and other first

response agencies shall notify the Emergency Management Director of

all significant events occurring in the jurisdiction. Emergency

Management Directors shall promptly report significant events to the

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.

F. In carrying out the provisions of this act, each political

subdivision, in which any disaster as defined in Section 683.3 of

this title occurs, shall have the authority to declare a local

emergency and the power to 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 is authorized to 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

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and materials, and the appropriation and expenditure of public

funds.