(a) Each town and city of this state is hereby authorized and directed to establish a local organization for emergency management in accordance with the state emergency management plan and program. Except in a town that has a town manager in accordance with chapter 37 of Title 24, the executive officer or legislative branch of the town or city is authorized to appoint a town or city emergency management director who shall have direct responsibility for the organization, administration, and coordination of the local organization for emergency management, subject to the direction and control of the executive officer or legislative branch. If the town or city that has not adopted the town manager form of government and the executive officer or legislative branch of the town or city has not appointed an emergency management director, the executive officer or legislative branch shall be the town or city emergency management director. The town or city emergency management director may appoint an emergency management coordinator and other staff as necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, each local organization for emergency management shall perform emergency management functions within the territorial limits of the town or city within which it is organized, and, in addition, shall conduct such functions outside of the territorial limits as may be required pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and in accord with such regulations as the governor may prescribe.

(c) Each local organization shall participate in the development of an all-hazards plan with the local emergency planning committee and the public safety district.

(d) Each local organization shall annually notify the local emergency planning committee on forms provided by the state emergency response commission of its capacity to perform emergency functions in response to an all-hazards incident. Each local organization shall perform the emergency functions indicated on the most recently submitted form in response to an all-hazards incident. (Amended 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 8; 1993, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. June 14, 1994; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 7.)