Whenever the Governor and Council of State acting together declare an emergency to exist by reason of actual or impending hostile attack upon the State of North Carolina and, due to the emergency so declared, it becomes imprudent or impossible to conduct the affairs of local government at the regular or usual place or places thereof, the governing body of each political subdivision of this State is hereby authorized to meet from time to time upon call of the presiding officer or a majority of the members thereof at the designated emergency location of government during the period of the emergency and until the emergency is declared terminated by the Governor and Council of State. (1959, c. 349.)