A state of emergency is a government declaration that says that normal government operations have been suspended due to some type of crisis. A state of emergency can alter many aspects of social and public life, including suspending regular civil rights. It is most often used to deal with natural disasters or when there is a threat to the safety and security of the public. States of emergencies may also include the ability to impose curfews, institute rationing or deploy military forces.
Each state has a different statutory definition for what constitutes a state of emergency. Some definitions are broad, such as in Victoria where the Premier can declare a state of emergency if there is “a danger to employment, safety or public order.” In others, the term is more specific and might be triggered by fires, floods or severe air pollution.
States of emergency can be an important tool for governments to use when the normal legislative paths through which the government normally functions are too slow to respond to a disaster. However, a state of emergency can be abused, with the powers that it gives to government allowing it to suppress internal opposition or other activities that might offend the ruler. This is often the case in dictatorships, and long-lasting states of emergency can be used to justify a repressive regime.
In the United States, a state of emergency can be requested by the Governor of the affected State (which includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Federated States of Micronesia). The Stafford Act requires that the requester certify that the State and its local governments will meet all cost-sharing requirements for applicable federal assistance programs.
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