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GPSolo eReport

GPSolo eReport July 2024

Disaster or Emergency State Laws Chart

Practical Law Government Practice

Summary

  • The checklist below shows state laws concerning powers and authority for state and local government during a disaster or emergency. 
  • This checklist does not include emergency succession laws, emergency purchasing, emergency communications or statutes concerning 9-1-1 systems, standards for equipping or operating emergency vehicles, or other general laws.
Disaster or Emergency State Laws Chart
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The checklist below shows state laws concerning powers and authority for state and local government during a disaster or emergency. This checklist does not include emergency succession laws, emergency purchasing, emergency communications or statutes concerning 9-1-1 systems, standards for equipping or operating emergency vehicles, or other general laws.

  

State

Comprehensive State Laws

Alabama

Alabama Emergency Management Agency

Ala. Code § 29-3-16 (Emergency interim successors).

Ala. Code §§ 31-9-1 to 31-9-24 (Emergency management).

Alaska

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Alaska Stat. Ann. § 09.65.091 (Liability for disaster).

Alaska Stat. Ann. §§ 26.23.010 to 26.23.240 (Disaster act).

Arizona

Department of Emergency and Military Affairs

A.R.S. §§ 26-301 to 26-321 (Emergency management).

A.R.S. § 32-1910 (Prescriptions in emergency).

A.R.S. § 35-192 (Disaster – declaration, liabilities, expenses – sections held unconstitutional by Arizona School Boards Assoc. v. State of Arizona, 252 Ariz. 219 (Ariz. 2022)).

A.R.S. §§ 36-781 to 36-790 (Public health emergencies).

A.R.S. § 38-384 (Succession).

Arkansas

Arkansas Division of Emergency Management

Ark. Code Ann. § 4-88-303 (Unfair pricing).

Ark. Code Ann. § 12-61-115 (Emergency proclamation).

Ark. Code Ann. §§ 12-75-101 to 12-75-133 (Emergency services)

Ark. Code Ann. § 12-87-103 (Volunteer health practitioners during emergency declaration).

Ark. Code Ann. §§ 21-1-302-21 to 1-311 (Succession).

Ark. Code Ann. § 25-1-101 (Emergency temporary location for government).

California

Office of Emergency Services

Cal. Gov't Code §§ 8550 to 8668 (Emergency services).

Colorado

Emergency Preparedness and Response

Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 16-2.5-110 (Peace officers).

Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 24-33.5-701 to 24-33.5-715 (Emergency management).

Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 25-15-306 (Hazardous waste interlocal and fees).

Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 29-5-104 (Temporary assignment of peace officers).

Colo Rev. Stat. §§ 29-22-102 – 29-22-104 (Hazardous substance incidents).

Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 30-10-516 (Sheriffs).

Connecticut

Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §§ 19a-131a to 19a-131k (Public health emergency).

Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §§ 28-1 to 28-32a (Emergency management and civil preparedness).

Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §§ 42-230 to 42-235 (Profiteering).

Delaware

Delaware Emergency Management Agency

20 Del. C. §§ 3101 to 3155 (Emergency management).

Florida

Florida Division of Emergency Management

§§ 252.31 to 252.9335, Fla. Stat. (Emergency management).

Georgia

Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency

O.C.G.A. §§ 38-3-1 through 38-3-191 (Emergency management).

Hawaii

Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency

HRS §§ 127A-1 through 127A-32 (Emergency management).

Idaho

Idaho Office of Emergency Management

Idaho Code § 39-7104 (Hazardous substance emergency response).

Idaho Code §§ 46-1001 to 46-1027 (State disaster preparedness).

Idaho Code §§ 67-5501 to 67-5508 (Post attack response management).

Illinois

Illinois Emergency Management Agency

5 ILCS 335/2 (Disaster services).

20 ILCS 2305/2 (Department of public health powers).

20 ILCS 3305/1 to 3305/23 (Emergency management agency).

30 ILCS 105/6z-120 to 30 ILCS 105/6z-123 (Disaster response and recovery fund).

50 ILCS 122/1 to 50 ILCS 122/15 (Local government disaster service volunteers).

210 ILCS 50/3.255 (Emergency medical disaster plan).

Indiana

Emergency Management and Preparedness Division

Ind. Code §§ 10-14-3-0.5 to 10-14-3-34 (Emergency management).

Ind. Code § 10-14-8-4 (Emergency response plan).

Ind. Code § 36-6-6-14 (Borrowing for emergency service).

Ind. Code §§ 36-8-13-0.1 to 36-8-13-9 (Fire protection and emergency services).

Iowa

Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Iowa Code Ann. §§ 29C.1 to 29C.24 (Emergency management).

Iowa Code Ann. § 372.14 (Powers of mayor in emergency).

Kansas

Kansas Community Preparedness and Emergency Management

K.S.A. 12-110a (Equipment purchase).

K.S.A. 12-16,117 (City policies for assistance during disaster; immunity).

K.S.A. 19-3001 (Drought emergency resolution).

K.S.A. 48-9a01 (Interstate emergency management assistance compact).

K.S.A. 48-905a (Emergency management).

K.S.A. 48-907 (Powers and duties of adjunct general).

K.S.A. 48-911 to 48-939 (Mobile support units).

K.S.A. 48-945 (Declaration of emergency).

K.S.A. 48-1206 (Authority of interim successors).

K.S.A. 48-1313 (Termination of operation).

K.S.A. 48-1401 (Temporary locations of government).

K.S.A. 50-6,106 (Unconscionable acts, profiteer from disaster).

K.S.A. 59-2708 (Presumptive death in cases of catastrophic events, emergencies, disasters).

K.S.A. 65-6158 (Interstate compact for emergency personnel licensure).

K.S.A. 82a-408 (Drought emergency).

Kentucky

Kentucky Emergency Management

KRS 39a.010 to KRS 39a.305 (Emergency management).

KRS 39b.010 to KRS 39b.990 (Local emergency management).

KRS 367.37 (Prohibition on price gouging).

Louisiana

Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness

La. R.S. 14:329.6 (Emergency proclamation).

La. R.S. 17:416.16 (School crisis management and response plans).

La. R.S. 17:3109 (Emergency proclamation for universities).

La. R.S. 29:7 (Militia; public emergencies).

La. R.S. 29:722 to 29:739 (Homeland security and emergency assistance and disaster act).

La. R.S. 29:761 to 29:775 (Health emergency powers).

La. R.S. 33:1401 to 33:1408 (Emergency interim succession).

La. R.S. 53:41 to 53:50 (Precautionary measures by governor).

La. R.S. 53:151 (Powers of public bodies).

La. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 941 to 958 (Emergency or disaster provisions).

Maine

Maine Emergency Management Agency

9-B M.R.S.A. § 151 (Emergency declaration).

22 M.R.S.A. § 412 (Coordination of public health infrastructure).

37-B M.R.S.A. §§ 701 to 1011 (Emergency management).

Maryland

Department of Emergency Management

Md. Code Ann., Educ. § 4-134 (Schools designated as emergency shelters).

Md. Code Ann., Gen. Provis. § 4-314.1 (School mapping).

Md. Code Ann., Gen. Provis. § 4-352 (May deny inspection of information related to emergency management).

Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. § 17-602 (Biological agents registry program).

Md. Public Safety §§ 14-101 to 14-1004 (Emergency management).

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

M.G.L. Const. Amend. Art. 47 (Providing food and shelter in emergencies).

M.G.L. Const. Amend. Art. 83 (Continuity of government in emergencies).

M.G.L. c. 23 § 9H (Emergency commission).

M.G.L. c. 25 § 4B (Declaration of emergency).

M.G.L. c. 25A § 8 (Declaration of energy emergency).

M.G.L. c. 33 § 41 (Aid by armed forces).

M.G.L. c. 33 § 51 (Occupation of land and liability).

M.G.L. c. 33 § 89 (Use of private cars).

M.G.L. c. 40 § 4 (Public safety mutual aid).

M.G.L. c. 40 § 37A (Curfew).

M.G.L. c. 41 § 125 (Temporary housing).

M.G.L. c. 43 § 86 (Mayor powers and duties).

M.G.L. c. 43 § 100 (Mayor and vice-chairman powers and duties).

M.G.L. c. 44 § 31 (Liabilities and exceptions).

M.G.L. c. 48 § 59A (Aid to other cities).

M.G.L. c. 111 § 5A (Antitoxins, serums, vaccines).

M.G.L. c. 143 § 2C (Evacuation of state house in disaster).

M.G.L. c.161A § 37 (Emergency proclamation).

M.G.L. c. 164 § 116A (Disconnection of service for fire, explosion, or other disaster).

M.G.L. c. 269 § 1 (Dispensing unlawful assembly).

Michigan

Emergency Management & Homeland Security

MCL 141.1549 (Emergency manager).

MCL 801.53 (Jail emergency).

Minnesota

Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Minn. Stat. Ann. §§ 12.01 to 12.61 (Emergency management).

Mississippi

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency

Miss. Code Ann. §§ 33-15-1 to 33-15-317 (Emergency management).

Missouri

State Emergency Management Agency

Mo. Const. art. IV § 6 (Militia).

§ 41.500 RSMo (State defense force).

§§ 44.020 to 44.415 RSMo (Emergency management).

§ 57.119 RSMo (Temporary appointment of deputy sheriffs).

§ 58.206 RSMo (Special appoint of medical examiner in emergency).

§ 70.837 RSMo (Mutual aid for public safety agencies).

§ 84.175, RSMo (Police reserve force and emergencies).

Montana

Disaster & Emergency Services

Mont. Code Ann. §§ 10-3-101 to 10-3-1310 (Disaster and emergency services).

Nebraska

Nebraska Emergency Management Agency

 

Neb. Rev. St. § A1-124 (Emergency management assistance compact).

Neb. Rev. St. §§ 13-701 to 13-706 (Emergency seat of government).

Neb. Rev. St. §§ 55-115 to 55-116 (Militia).

Neb. Rev. St. §§ 72-701 to 72-701.06 (Attack; emergency seat of government).

Neb. Rev. St. §§ 81-825 to 81-829.75 (Wildfire control act).

Nevada

Division of Emergency Management

NRS 414.020 to 414.160 (Emergency management).

NRS 441a.560 (Quarantine procedure).

New Hampshire

Homeland Security and Emergency Management

N.H. RSA §§ 4:45 to 4:48 (Miscellaneous and emergency management).

N.H. RSA §13:2 (Emergency certificates).

N.H. RSA §§ 21-P:34 to 21-P:48 (Homeland security and emergency management).

N.H. RSA §§ 21-P:53 to 21-P:54 (Public health powers and duties).

N.H. RSA § 31:5-a (Disaster funds).

N.H. RSA § 33:6 (Emergency borrowing).

New Jersey

Office of Emergency Management

N.J.S.A. 58:1A-4 (Water emergency).

N.J.S.A. App. A:9-30 to A:9-63 (Emergency powers).

New Mexico

Department Homeland Security and Emergency Management

NMSA 1978, §§ 12-10-1 to 12-10-21 (All hazard emergency management).

NMSA 1978 §§ 12-10A-1 to 12-10A-19 (Public health emergency response).

New York

Office of Emergency Management

N.Y. Const. art. 9 § 2 (Duties of legislature; home rule powers of local government).

N.Y. Exec. Law §§ 20 to 29-J (Disaster preparedness).

N.Y. Exec, Law § 580 (Emergency services council).

N.Y. Unconsol. § 9123 (City and county requirements).

N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 206 (Commissioner powers and duties).

N.Y. Gen. Mun. Law § 209-b (Emergency rescue and first aid squads).

North Carolina

Department of Public Safety Emergency Management

N.C.G.S. §§ 90-21.130 to 90-21.134 (Emergency or disaster treatment protection).

N.C.G.S. § 143-355.3 (Water shortage emergency).

N.C.G.S. § 143B-1000 (Division of emergency management).

N.C.G.S. §§ 162b-1 to 162b-13 (Authority to borrow funds).

N.C.G.S. §§ 166A-19.1 to 166A-53 (Authority and responsibility of governor, state agencies, and local government).

North Dakota

Department of Emergency Services

N.D.C.C. § 11-33-03 (Zoning regulations emergency management).

N.D.C.C. §§ 37-17.1-01 to 37-17.1-29 (Disaster act).

N.D.C.C. § 48-08-08 (State, county, municipal buildings disaster activities).

N.D.C.C. § 54-16-13 (Borrow funds for disaster).

Ohio

Emergency Management Agency

Ohio Const. art. IX, § 4 (Militia for disaster aid).

Ohio R.C. 107.42 to 107.43 (State of emergency).

Ohio R.C. 5502.21 to 5502.41 (Emergency management).

Oklahoma

Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

Okla. Stat. tit. 27A, §§ 4-1-101to 401-1-107 (Emergency response).

Okla. Stat. tit. 63, §§ 683.1 to 683.24 (Emergency management).

Oregon

Department of Emergency Management

Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 176.785 to 176.815 (Emergency proclamation for energy).

Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 401.052 to 401.236 (Emergency management).

Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 401.309 to 401.335 (Local government declaration of emergency).

Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 401.900 to 401.990 (Earthquakes).

Pennsylvania

Emergency Management Agency

11 Pa. C.S.A. § 11203 (Powers of sheriff and emergency powers).

35 Pa. C.S.A. §§ 7301 to 7308 (Governor and disaster emergencies).

Rhode Island

Emergency Management Agency

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 30-15-1 to 30-15-45 (Emergency management).

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 30-15.1-1 to 30-15.1-3 (Emergency location of state government).

R.I. Gen. Laws § 30-15.2-1 to R.I. Gen. Laws § 30-15.2-3 (Emergency location of political subdivisions).

South Carolina

Emergency Management Division

S.C. Code Ann. § 5-7-120 (Municipalities authorized to send police to other cities in emergencies).

S.C. Code Ann. § 24-5-210 (Mutual aid).

S.C. Code Ann. §§ 25-1-420 to 25-1-460 (Emergency management).

S.C. Code Ann. § 39-5-145 (Price gouging during emergency).

S.C. Code Ann. §§ 44-4-100 to 44-4-570 (Emergency health powers act).

South Dakota

Department of Public Safety Emergency Management

SDCL 34-48A-1 to 34-48A-55 (Emergency management).

Tennessee

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency

T.C.A. §§ 38-9-101 and 38-9-106 (Civil emergencies).

T.C.A. §§ 58-8-101 and 58-8-115 (Mutual aid for emergencies and disasters).

Texas

Department of Public Safety

Tex. Gov't Code §§ 418.001 to 418.307 (Disaster act).

Utah

Division of Emergency Management

Utah Code §§ 53-2a-101 to 53-2a-221 (Emergency management).

Vermont

Vermont Emergency Management

20 V.S.A. §§ 1 to 47 (Emergency management)

Virginia

Department of Emergency Management

Va. Code Ann. §§ 44-146.13 to 44-146.28:2 (Emergency services and disaster law).

Washington

Emergency Management Division

RCW 38.52.005 to 38.52.940 (Emergency management).

RCW 70.168.120 (Emergency medical services and trauma care).

West Virginia

Emergency Management Division

W. Va. Code § 1-4-1 (Relocation due to emergency from enemy attack).

W. Va. Code § 7-26-6 (Standards for interagency cooperation).

W. Va. Code § 15-1D-14 (Martial law).

W. Va. Code §§ 15-5-1 to 15-5-23 (Emergency Management)

W. Va. Code § 16-3-2 (County and municipal powers to quarantine).

W. Va. Code § 18-9F-4 (School safety plans).

W. Va. Code § 29-30-4 (Regulation during an emergency).

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Emergency Management

Wis. Stat. § 66.0314 (State of emergency; mutual assistance).

Wis. Stat. §§ 323.01 to 323.81 (Emergency management).

Wis. Stat. § 895.483 (Civil liability exemption; regional and local emergency response teams).

Wyoming

Wyoming Office of Homeland Security

Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 19-13-101 to 19-13-210 (Wyoming Office of Homeland Security).

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