Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002)Chapter 5 : Municipal Disaster ManagementPart 2 : Municipal disaster management centres49. Disaster occurring or threatening to occur in municipal areas |
| (1) | When a disastrous event occurs or is threatening to occur in the area of a municipality, the disaster management centre of the municipality concerned must determine whether the event should be regarded as a disaster in terms of this Act, and if so, must immediately— |
| (a) | initiate efforts to assess the magnitude and severity or potential magnitude and severity of the disaster; |
| (b) | inform the National Centre and the relevant provincial disaster management centre of the disaster and its initial assessment of the magnitude and severity or potential magnitude and severity of the disaster; |
| (c) | alert disaster management role-players in the municipal area that may be of assistance in the circumstances; and |
| (d) | initiate the implementation of any contingency plans and emergency procedures that may be applicable in the circumstances. |
| (2) | When informing the National Centre and the relevant provincial disaster management centre in terms of subsection (1)(a), the municipal disaster management centre may make such recommendations regarding the classification of the disaster as may be appropriate. |