A state of emergency gives government agencies powers they wouldn’t normally be able to have. Usually this is during events that will impact civilians, such as a natural disaster or a war. Those powers can include altering government operations, ordering specific action by individuals, and suspending regular civil rights.
In the United States, the Governor of a state has the power to declare a state of emergency when needed. This declaration makes it possible for public agencies to make purchasing decisions more quickly, opens up federal and federal-through-state funding streams, and puts emergency operations plans into effect. It can also activate local volunteer groups like the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) to fulfill critical missions.
Depending on the situation, some states may only need to activate these plans for short periods of time. If a blizzard threatens to dump 3 feet of snow on a city, the declaration would let local governments bring in additional crews to help clear roads and set up shelters. If there’s a food shortage, a state of emergency would allow officials to set up temporary grocery stores or open distribution centers.
Typically, a state of emergency can only be declared for a certain period of time and requires legislative approval to continue. However, some states have been known to circumvent these rules and regularly renew a state of emergency. This is one reason why it’s important for citizens to stay informed about state of emergencies and their potential impacts on them.