NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1969 SESSION

CHAPTER 1129

SENATE BILL 832

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE GOVERNOR TO ORDER PUBLIC BUILDINGS EVACUATED DURING AN EMERGENCY AND TO PROVIDE THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATION OF SAID ORDER.

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

Section 1.  When it is determined by the Governor that a great public crisis, disaster, riot, catastrophe, or any other similar public emergency exists, or the occurrence of any such condition is imminent, and, in the Governor's opinion it is necessary to evacuate any building owned or controlled by any department, agency, institution, school, college, board, division, commission or subdivision of the State in order to maintain public order and safety or to afford adequate protection for lives or property, the Governor is hereby authorized to issue an order of evacuation directing all persons within the building to leave the building and its premises forthwith. The order shall be delivered to any law enforcement officer or officer of the National Guard, and such officer shall, by a suitable public address system, read the order to the occupants of the building and demand that the occupants forthwith evacuate said building within the time specified in the Governor's order.

Any person who wilfully refuses to leave the building as directed in the Governor's order shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both, in the discretion of the Court.

Sec. 2.  All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this Act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 3.  This Act shall become effective upon its ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 30th day of June, 1969.