A state of emergency is a situation that gives the government powers it would not normally have. It can be declared for reasons such as a natural disaster, civil unrest, armed conflict or a medical pandemic or epidemic. A state of emergency allows the government to put through policies that it otherwise would not be allowed to in order to protect its citizens. States of emergency have been used by democracies to manage a wide range of situations and also by dictatorial regimes. A state of emergency can be abused as it can allow governments to override the human rights of their citizens usually protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
States of emergency are generally initiated by the Governor of a state and the duration is specified in the declaration along with the effective dates, geographic areas covered and conditions giving rise to the state of emergency. The declaration may also identify state rules and regulations that are suspended during the state of emergency.
After the Governor makes a state of emergency declaration, he or she typically activates the State’s disaster response plans and establishes an Emergency Operations Center. This will put State agencies and their personnel on alert and allow them to work closely with local governments to support response and recovery efforts. In addition, the Governor can call upon private agencies such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army to fulfill critical missions.
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