GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

S	1 

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 946

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Sponsors: Senator Basnight.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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May 14, 1991

A JOINT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION TO STUDY THE STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
Section 1.  The Legislative Research Commission may study the State emergency management program's ability in the future to adequately address preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation for technological and natural hazards as may impact the citizens of North Carolina and their property.  In conducting its study, the Commission may consider the program's ability in the future to address the following:
(1)	Technological hazards (hazardous material), including:
a.	Need to establish regional hazardous materials response teams, and to staff each of the six emergency management area offices with a hazardous materials specialist;
b.	Need for staff and resources to implement Senate Bill 977, introduced in the 1989 Session, addressing potential adverse impacts of offshore oil and gas activities;
c.	Need for a fee system related to the impact of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986, as amended;
d.	Need for staff and resources to implement OSHA 1910-120 (Title I, SARA, as amended) for State and local hazardous material responders; and
e.	Expansion of the Emergency Information System (EIS) at the State emergency management office into the six emergency management area offices to include detailed digitized maps of business and industry impacted by SARA.
(2)	Natural Hazards, including:
a.	Statewide flooding problems;
b.	Dam safety, particularly emphasizing the impact of the dam on people, property, and vital resources located below the dam;
c.	Further expansion of the Integrated Flood Observation and Warning System in the mountains to include maintenance of the entire system;
d.	Further study of eastern North Carolina hurricane preparedness, emphasizing additional signage to identify local Emergency Broadcast System station;
e.	Hurricane preparedness for inland counties;
f.	Need for adequate planning and public education, and development of urban search and rescue capabilities regarding other hazards such as tornadoes, forest fires, and the potential impact of liquefaction of the New Madrid fault;
g.	Expansion of the emergency management system to allow for identification of high-risk dams.
(3)	Recovery operations (Presidential and Gubernatorial declared disasters), including:
a.	Need for Disaster Recovery Law, Disaster Recovery Fund, and related staffing needs; and
b.	Need to  expand Emergency Information System.
(4)	Catastrophic disasters, including resource needs at State and local levels such as auxiliary power requirements for vital facilities.
If the Commission conducts the study authorized under this act, it shall report its findings together with recommended legislation, to the 1992 Session of the 1991 General Assembly, or to the 1993 General Assembly, or to both.
Sec. 2. This resolution is effective upon ratification.