Subject:
Title
Delegation of Authority for Hurricane Season
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Fiscal Impact:
None
Dept/Office:
Public Safety Dept - Emergency Management
Requested Action:
Recommendation
In order to facilitate prompt preparation and response to an impending tropical cyclone during the 2020 season, Emergency Management is seeking specific delegation of authority as described below beginning immediately and ending on November 30, 2020
• Allow the vice-chair of the BoCC to have authority to declare a Local State of Emergency for any tropical cyclone event or similar emergency during the 2020 season after obtaining input from the Emergency Management Director and the Policy Group; and
• Allow the County Manager and/or his designee to sign extensions to any Local State of Emergency; and
• Allow the current vice-chair of the BoCC to have the authority to order Emergency Protective Actions, including implementing any restrictions necessary to protect life and property as a direct result of storm impacts after obtaining input from the Emergency Management Director and the Policy Group. This would include but is not limited to issuing Evacuation Orders (areas included, timing, effective date and termination) and making decisions on Shelter Operations (which shelters to open and timing). If the vice-chair is not available this authority would then be delegated to the County Manager.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
During a Special Meeting on April 13, 2020, the Chair of the Board of County Commissioners appointed the Vice-Chair as the Chair of the Policy Group. On May 19, 2020, the Board adopted the 2020 CEMP which provides that the Board of County Commissioners is the head of Brevard Emergency Operations. The CEMP also provided that in the event of an emergency where a quorum of the Board is unable to meet, the Chair, vice chair or district commissioner in ascending order of the districts is delegated authority to declare a state of emergency and take all necessary emergency actions. On May 19th the Board also approved the Vice Chair serving as the delegated authority for the remainder of the current term.
Under the recently adopted CEMP, Emergency Management has to call a special meeting in order to request that the BoCC issue a Local State of Emergency if there is a threat of a tropical cyclone for Brevard County. This requires at least 24 hours’ notice. Given the complexities of planning during the 2020 hurricane season in conjunction with managing the current pandemic and the forecast of above average hurricane activity in the Atlantic, Emergency Management is seeking specific delegations of authority to streamline the normal process. The intent is to be able to obtain critical input from both the Emergency Management Director and other key stakeholders from the Policy Group such as representatives of the municipalities, Department of Health, the Sheriff’s office and School Board and implement necessary actions in a coordinated and timely fashion.
The delegation of authority is sought for the 2020 hurricane season only (through November 30, 2020) and can be revoked by the BoCC at any time.
Clerk to the Board Instructions: