A state of emergency (or “state of siege”) allows a government to suspend constitutional rights and impose laws in the name of public safety. Historically, the term has been used by dictators to suppress dissent, although it can also be declared in times of natural disasters or man-made catastrophes.
In the United States, a governor can declare a state of emergency on behalf of his or her constituents when they need extra resources from the government to deal with a crisis. The declaration can give the governor flexibility to redistribute State funds without the legislature’s approval, a requirement in order to receive Federal emergency aid.
It is possible for leaders of local cities, towns, counties and villages to also declare a state of emergency for their district. This allows them to enact laws that will help them manage the crisis and may even include restrictions on travel or other activities.
While a state of emergency sounds intimidating, it can be very helpful for state/local governments and their emergency managers to provide assistance to communities in need. It can allow State agencies to speed up their response time to help prevent or alleviate damage, loss of life and property from a natural or man-made event.
In Victoria, the Premier can declare a state of emergency under the Public Safety Preservation Act 1958. This gives him or her the power to make any regulations deemed necessary to ensure employment, safety and security in the region. These can be revoked after 30 days or earlier by a resolution of the lower house of Parliament.