(a) It is the intent of the city council to ensure that the basic government functions of maintaining the public peace, health and safety are provided and to effectively deal with any disaster that may occur within the City by ensuring the readiness and the complete and efficient utilization of all available resources.

(b) It is the intent of this article to establish an office of emergency management which will be the coordinating agency for all disaster planning and will be the instrument through which the city manager may exercise his or her authority and discharge the responsibilities vested in him or her by the City Charter and local ordinances.

(c) This article shall not relieve any city department of its official responsibilities or authority given to it in the City Charter or by ordinance, nor shall it adversely affect the work of any volunteer agency for relief in disaster emergency. (Code 1979, § 12-12)