(Amended by Ordinance Nos. 181352 and 182428, effective January 16, 2009.)

A.  “Director” shall mean the director of the Portland Office of Emergency Management.

B.  “Disaster” means an occurrence or threat of imminent widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property regardless of cause which in the determination of the Mayor or designated public official, causes or will cause significant damage as to warrant disaster assistance from outside City resources to supplement the efforts and available resources of the City to alleviate the damage, loss, hardship or suffering caused.

C.  “Disaster Policy Council” is the City’s policymaking body which advises the Mayor on public policy regarding pertinent decisions necessary in a disaster event.  The DPC meets twice a year at the change of the President of the Council or at the Mayor’s request.

D.  “Emergency” means any natural, technological or human caused, event or circumstance causing or threatening: loss of life, injury to persons or property, human suffering or financial loss including but not limited to fire, flood, earthquake, severe weather, drought, volcanic activity, explosion, spills or releases of petroleum products or other hazardous material, contamination, utility or transportation emergencies, disease, blight, infestation, unmanageable crisis, influx of migrants, civil disturbance, riot, sabotage and war.

E.  “Emergency Coordination Center” is the centralized location where local officials may coordinate activities and implement direction from the Mayor. The primary responsibility of the emergency coordination center is to provide information, policy direction, prioritization of resources, and coordination for any emergency or disaster.

F.  “Emergency Management Committee” shall be designated bureau emergency coordinators established to develop and implement plans, programs and training exercises to promote integrated disaster response efforts.

G.  “Emergency Operations Center” is a location where information from one bureau is collected to determine the tactical decisions and use of resources relative to the bureau’s mission, and responsibilities.