(a) TEMA is authorized to provide, within or out of the state, such support from available personnel, equipment, and other resources of state agencies and the political subdivisions of the state as may be necessary to reinforce emergency management agencies in areas stricken by emergency. Such support shall be rendered with due consideration of the plans of the federal government, this state, the other states, and of the criticalness of the existing situation. Emergency management support forces shall be called to duty upon order of TEMA and shall perform functions in any part of the state or, upon the conditions specified in this section, in other states.
Terms Used In Tennessee Code 58-2-113
Emergency: means an occurrence, or threat thereof, whether natural, technological, or manmade, in war or in peace, that results or may result in substantial injury or harm to the population, or substantial damage to or loss of property. See Tennessee Code 58-2-101
Emergency management: means the preparation for, the mitigation of, the response to, and the recovery from emergencies and disasters. See Tennessee Code 58-2-101
Political subdivision: means any municipality or county, including any county having metropolitan form of government, created pursuant to law. See Tennessee Code 58-2-101
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) Personnel of emergency management support forces while on duty, whether inside or outside of this state, shall:
(1) If they are employees of the state, have the powers, duties, rights, privileges, and immunities, and receive the compensation incidental to their employment;(2) If they are employees of a political subdivision of the state, whether serving inside or outside of the political subdivision, have the powers, duties, rights, privileges, and immunities, and receive the compensation, incidental to their employment. The compensation shall be provided by and through the providing political subdivision; and(3) If they are not employees of the state or a political subdivision thereof, they shall be entitled to the same rights and immunities as are provided by law for the employees of this state and to such compensation as may be fixed by TEMA. All personnel of emergency management support forces shall, while on duty, be subject to the operational control of the authority in charge of emergency management activities in the area in which they are serving and shall be reimbursed for all actual and necessary travel and subsistence expenses to the extent of funds available.
