Governor. The provisions of this section shall be operative only during the existence of a natural or man-made emergency. The existence of such emergency may be proclaimed by the Governor or by concurrent resolution of the Legislature if the Governor in such proclamation, or the Legislature in such resolution, finds that an emergency or disaster has occurred or is anticipated in the immediate future. Any such emergency, whether proclaimed by the Governor or by the Legislature, shall terminate upon the proclamation of the termination thereof by the Governor, or by passage by the Legislature of a concurrent resolution terminating such emergency. During such period as such state of emergency exists or continues, the Governor shall have and may exercise the following additional emergency powers: 1. To activate the Emergency Operations Plan, and to assume regulatory control over all essential resources of this state, directly or through the boards, agencies, offices and officers established by the Emergency Operations Plan, to determine priorities of such resources and allocate such resources as the Governor may deem necessary in cooperation with the political subdivisions of this state, the federal government or other states. For purposes of this paragraph: a. “resources” means all economic resources within this state including, but not limited to, food, manpower, health, water, transportation, economic stabilization, electric power, petroleum, gas, solid fuel, industrial production, construction and housing, and b. “economic stabilization” means the maintaining of the monetary, taxation, and revenue policies of this state without a negative effect to the market economy and its operations and specifically excludes the determination of essential or nonessential private business enterprises or the closing of private business enterprises. 2. To enforce all laws, rules and regulations relating to emergency management and to assume direct operational control of any or all emergency management forces and helpers in this state. 3. To provide for the evacuation of all or part of the population from any stricken or threatened area or areas within this state and to take such steps as are necessary for the receipt and care of such evacuees. 4. Subject to the provisions of the Oklahoma Constitution, to remove from office any public officer having administrative responsibilities under this act for willful failure to obey any order, rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this act. Such removal shall be upon charges after service upon such person of a copy of such charges and after giving such person an opportunity to be heard in the defense of such person. Pending the preparation and disposition of charges, the Governor may suspend such person for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days. A vacancy resulting from removal or suspension pursuant to this section shall be filled by the Governor until it is filled as otherwise provided by law. 5. To perform and exercise such other functions, powers and duties as are necessary to promote and secure the safety and protection of the civilian population and to carry out the provisions of the Emergency Operations Plan in a national or state emergency. Added by Laws 1967, c. 33, § 9, emerg. eff. Feb. 14, 1967. Amended by Laws 2003, c. 329, § 9, emerg. eff. May 29, 2003; Laws 2013, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 17, § 2, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013; Laws 2013, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 17, § 3, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013; Laws 2025, c. 7, § 2, eff. July 1, 2025. NOTE: Laws 2009, c. 78, § 12 repealed by Laws 2010, c. 2, § 52, emerg. eff. March 3, 2010. NOTE: Laws 2009, c. 228, § 29 was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013) and repealed by Laws 2013, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 17, § 1, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013.
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