§ 10-14-3-7 — Declaration of purposes

Indiana § 10-14-3-7

• Jurisdiction: Indiana
• Title 10: PUBLIC SAFETY
• Art. 14: EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
• Ch. 3: Emergency Management and Disaster Law

Text

(a) Because of the existing and increasing
possibility of disasters or emergencies of unprecedented size and
destructiveness that may result from manmade or natural causes, to
ensure that Indiana will be adequately prepared to deal with disasters
or emergencies or to prevent or mitigate those disasters where possible,
generally to provide for the common defense, to protect the public
peace, health, and safety, and to preserve the lives and property of the
people of the state, it is found and declared to be necessary:
(1) to provide for emergency management under the department
of homeland security;
(2) to create local emergency management departments and to
authorize and direct disaster and emergency management
functions in the political subdivisions of the state;
(3) to confer upon the governor and upon the executive heads or
governing bodies of the political subdivisions of the state the
emergency powers provided in this chapter;
(4) to provide for the rendering of mutual aid among the political
subdivisions of the state, with other states, and with the federal
government to carry out emergency, disaster, or emergency
management functions; and
(5) to authorize the establishment of organizations and the
implementation of steps that are necessary and appropriate to
carry out this chapter.
(b) It is also the purpose of this chapter and the policy of the state
to:
(1) coordinate all emergency management functions of this state
to the maximum extent with the comparable functions of:
(A) the federal government, including the federal government's
various departments and agencies;
(B) other states and localities; and
(C) private agencies of every type;
so that the most effective preparation and use may be made of the
nation's manpower, resources, and facilities for dealing with any
disaster that may occur;
(2) prepare for prompt and efficient rescue, care, and treatment of
persons victimized or threatened by disaster;
(3) provide a setting conducive to the rapid and orderly start of
restoration and rehabilitation of persons and property affected by
disasters;
(4) clarify and strengthen the roles of the:
(A) governor;
(B) state agencies; and
(C) local governments;
in the prevention of, preparation for, response to, and recovery
from disasters;
(5) authorize and provide cooperation between departments of
government in:
(A) disaster prevention;
(B) preparedness;
(C) response; and
(D) recovery;
(6) authorize and provide coordination of activities relating to:
(A) disaster prevention;
(B) preparedness;
(C) response; and
(D) recovery;
by agencies and officers of Indiana, and similar state-local,
interstate, federal-state, and foreign activities in which the state
and its political subdivisions may participate; and
(7) provide a disaster management system embodying all aspects
of pre-disaster preparedness, disaster operations, and post-disaster
response.
[Pre-2003 Recodification Citation: 10-4-1-2.]

Legislative History

As added by P.L.2-2003, SEC.5. Amended by P.L.1-2006, SEC.175.