The program, which began in 1998, helps cities form task forces to respond to emergencies involving weapons of mass destruction -- chemical, biological or nuclear.
The Coast Guard is also concerned about being able to respond to emergencies involving cruise ships, which are already starting to operate in summers in parts of the Arctic Ocean.
Only staff involved in "emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property" are exempt which in practice means many "essential workers" deemed vital to security and law enforcement.
Most employees have the statutory right to a "reasonable" amount of unpaid time off under the Employment Rights Act to allow them to deal with unforeseen matters and emergencies involving a dependant.
Billions of dollars have been allocated for so-called first responders like police officers, firefighters, ambulance and hospital workers, and National Guard units to improve their training for emergencies involving chemical, biological and nuclear attacks.
(a) Delivering or retrieving a person or object by parachute, helicopter, or other airborne means, except in emergencies involving public safety or serious property loss, or pursuant to the terms and conditions of a permit, is prohibited.
The Chief may also prescribe the conditions under which such equipment, transport, aircraft, installations, or structures may be used in emergencies involving the health and safety of persons, damage to property, or other purposes.
The care we received was incredible". The charity said in the first six months of this year, 50 of its missions were emergencies involving babies, children and teenagers.
The department would keep a skeleton staff running to deal with "emergencies involving the safety of human life," it wrote.
