166A-19.20. Gubernatorial or legislative declaration of state of emergency.
(a) Declaration. - A state of emergency may be declared by the Governor or by a resolution of the General Assembly, if either of these finds that an emergency exists.
(b) Emergency Area. - An executive order or resolution declaring a state of emergency shall include a definition of the area constituting the emergency area.
(c) Expiration of States of Emergency. - A state of emergency declared pursuant to this section shall expire when it is rescinded by the authority that issued it.
(d) Exercise of Powers Not Contingent on Declaration of Disaster Type. - Once a state of emergency has been declared pursuant to this section, the fact that a declaration of disaster type has not been issued shall not preclude the exercise of powers otherwise conferred during a state of emergency.
(e) Extra Session; Emergency Transportation Expenditures. - The General Assembly considers a determination by the Secretary of Transportation under G.S. 136-44.2E(f) that anticipated emergency expenses will exceed the funds in the Transportation Emergency Reserve within the meaning of the term "extraordinary occasions," and therefore the Governor is authorized to convene the General Assembly in Extra Session under Section 5(7) of Article III of the North Carolina Constitution. The General Assembly strongly urges the Governor to convene the General Assembly in Extra Session within 14 days of notice by the Secretary under G.S. 136-44.2E(f) for the purpose of appropriating funds from the Savings Reserve to the Emergency Reserve to address the transportation needs of the State necessitated by a major disaster.