2012 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
Title 35 - HEALTH AND SAFETY
Chapter 77 - Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 7701 - Duties concerning disaster prevention

                                CHAPTER 77
                         MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     Sec.
     7701.  Duties concerning disaster prevention.
     7702.  Acceptance of services, gifts, grants and loans.
     7703.  Interstate arrangements.
     7704.  Immunity from civil liability.
     7705.  Special powers of local agencies.
     7706.  Compensation for accidental injury.
     7707.  Penalties.
     7708.  Fire force disbanded in favor of volunteers.
     7709.  Fires on State premises.
     7710.  Firefighters and Auxiliaries Day.
     7711.  Firefighters' Memorial Flag.
     7712.  Firefighters' Memorial Sunday.
     7713.  Prohibition on certain service.

        Enactment.  Chapter 77 was added November 26, 1978, P.L.1332,
     No.323, effective immediately.
     § 7701.  Duties concerning disaster prevention.
        (a)  Governor.--In addition to disaster prevention measures
     included in the Commonwealth and local plans, the Governor shall
     consider on a continuing basis steps that could be taken to
     prevent or reduce the harmful consequences of disasters. The
     Governor, from time to time, shall make recommendations to the
     General Assembly, political subdivisions and other appropriate
     public and private entities as may facilitate measures for
     prevention or reduction of the harmful consequences of
     disasters.
        (b)  Department of Environmental Resources.--The Department
     of Environmental Resources, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania
     Emergency Management Agency, shall keep land uses and
     construction of structures and other facilities under continuing
     study and identify areas which are particularly susceptible to
     severe land shifting, subsidence, flood or other catastrophic
     occurrence. The studies under this subsection shall concentrate
     on means of reducing or avoiding the dangers caused by this
     occurrence or the consequences thereof.
        (c)  Other Commonwealth agencies.--At the direction of the
     Governor, and pursuant to any other authority and competence
     they have, Commonwealth agencies, including but not limited to
     those charged with economic recovery responsibilities in
     connection with floodplain management, stream encroachment and
     flow regulation, weather modification, fire prevention and
     control, air quality, public works, land use and land-use
     planning, construction standards, public utilities and energy,
     shall make studies of disaster prevention-related matters.
        (d)  Schools.--Public-funded universities, colleges, and
     elementary and secondary schools shall be made available to
     local, county and State officials for emergency planning and
     exercise purposes and actual service as mass-care facilities in
     the event of an emergency evacuation.
        (e)  Vehicles.--School bus and transportation vehicles owned
     or leased by universities, colleges and school districts shall
     be made available to local, county and State officials for
     emergency planning and exercise purposes and actual service in
     the event of an emergency evacuation.
        (f)  Disaster response and emergency preparedness drills.--
     Annually, schools and custodial child care facilities shall
     conduct at least one disaster response or emergency preparedness
     plan drill.
        (g)  Plans.--Every school district and custodial child care
     facility, in cooperation with the local Emergency Management
     Agency and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, shall
     develop and implement a comprehensive disaster response and
     emergency preparedness plan consistent with the guidelines
     developed by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and
     other pertinent State requirements. The plan shall be reviewed
     annually and modified as necessary. A copy of the plan shall be
     provided to the county emergency management agency.
     (July 13, 1988, P.L.501, No.87, eff. imd.; July 13, 2004,
     P.L.689, No.73, eff. 60 days)

        2004 Amendment.  Act 73 amended subsecs. (f) and (g).
        1988 Amendment.  Act 87 added subsecs. (d), (e), (f) and (g).
        References in Text.  The Department of Environmental
     Resources, referred to in subsec. (b), was abolished by Act 18
     of 1995. Its functions were transferred to the Department of
     Conservation and Natural Resources and the Department of
     Environmental Protection.