Code of Alabama
Article 1 - Alabama Emergency Management Act of 1955.
Section 31-9-3 - Definitions.

THIS SECTION WAS AMENDED BY ACT 2022-187 IN THE 2022 REGULAR SESSION, EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2022. TO SEE THE AMENDED VERSION, SEE THE VERSION LABELED PENDING.
As used in this article, these terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. The preparation for and the carrying out of all emergency functions, other than functions for which military forces or other federal agencies are primarily responsible, to prevent, minimize, and repair injury and damage resulting from disasters caused by enemy attack, sabotage, or other hostile action, or by fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural cause. These functions include, without limitation, fire-fighting services; police services; medical and health services; rescue, engineering, air raid warning services; communications; radiological, chemical, and other special weapons of defense; evacuation of persons from stricken areas; emergency welfare services (civilian war aid); emergency transportation; plant protection; temporary restoration of public utility services; and other functions related to civilian protection, together with all other activities necessary or incidental to the preparation for and carrying out of the foregoing functions.
(2) LOCAL ORGANIZATION. The organization of local emergency management forces designed principally for operation within their own community but capable of moving to other areas.
(3) POLITICAL SUBDIVISION. Any county or municipality created pursuant to law.
(4) STATE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. An occurrence or imminent threat of an illness or health condition that does all of the following:
a. Is believed to be caused by any of the following:
1. Bioterrorism.
2. The appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated infectious agent or biological toxin.
3. A natural disaster.
4. A chemical attack or accidental release.
5. A nuclear or radiological attack or accident.
b. Poses a high probability of any of the following harms:
1. A large number of deaths in the affected population.
2. A large number of serious or long-term disabilities in the affected population.
3. Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a significant risk of substantial future harm to a large number of people in the affected population.
(5) STATE OF EMERGENCY. When the Governor duly proclaims the existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the state caused by fire, flood, storm, epidemic, technological failure or accident, riot, drought, sudden and severe energy shortage, plant or animal infestation or disease, earthquake, explosion, terrorism, or man-made disaster, or other conditions, other than conditions resulting from a labor controversy or conditions causing a state of war emergency, which, by reason of their magnitude, are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of any single county, city and county, or city and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat, or energy shortage requires extraordinary measures beyond the authority vested in the Alabama Public Service Commission.
(6) STATE TECHNOLOGICAL EMERGENCY. An emergency caused by a technological failure or accident, including, but not limited to, an explosion, transportation accident, radiological accident, or chemical or other hazardous material incident.

Structure Code of Alabama

Code of Alabama

Title 31 - Military Affairs and Civil Defense.

Chapter 9 - Emergency Management.

Article 1 - Alabama Emergency Management Act of 1955.

Section 31-9-1 - Short Title.

Section 31-9-2 - Findings and Declarations of Necessity; Purpose of Article and Public Policy.

Section 31-9-3 - Definitions.

Section 31-9-4 - State Emergency Management Agency; Director of Emergency Management.

Section 31-9-6 - Powers and Duties of Governor With Respect to Emergency Management.

Section 31-9-7 - Mutual Interstate Aid Agreements and Compacts.

Section 31-9-8 - Emergency Powers of Governor.

Section 31-9-9 - Powers and Duties of Directors of Local Emergency Management Organizations as to Mutual Aid Agreements.

Section 31-9-10 - Local Emergency Management Organizations; Emergency Powers of Political Subdivisions.

Section 31-9-11 - Powers, Duties, etc., of Employees of Political Subdivisions Rendering Outside Aid.

Section 31-9-12 - Reimbursement of Expenses of Operation of Mobile Support Units of Other States; Operation of Alabama Mobile Support Units in Other States.

Section 31-9-13 - Orders, Rules and Regulations of Governor - Effect; Distribution.

Section 31-9-14 - Orders, Rules, and Regulations of Governor - Enforcement.

Section 31-9-15 - Orders, Rules, and Regulations of Governor - Enforcement - Arrests Without Warrant.

Section 31-9-16 - Immunity of State, etc., From Liability for Torts Resulting From Emergency Management Activities; Exemptions of Emergency Management Workers From License Requirements; Powers, Duties, etc., of Emergency Management Workers.

Section 31-9-17 - Exemption From Tort Liability of Persons Granting License or Privilege for Use of Real Estate, etc., for Shelters.

Section 31-9-18 - Governor, etc., May Accept Services, etc., From Federal Government, Private Persons, Etc.

Section 31-9-19 - Political Activities by Emergency Management Organizations.

Section 31-9-20 - Employment of Subversives by Emergency Management Organizations; Loyalty Oath.

Section 31-9-21 - Compensation Insurance for Emergency Management Workers and Trainees.

Section 31-9-22 - Penalties.

Section 31-9-23 - Article to Be Liberally Construed.

Section 31-9-24 - Regular and Emergency Appropriations; State Grants to Political Subdivisions.

Section 31-9-25 - Continued Operation of Business and Religious Entities During a State of Emergency; Alabama State House to Remain Open to Public While Legislature in Session.