A state of emergency may be triggered by a natural disaster, man-made disaster, or public health threat like a disease outbreak. It authorizes federal resources to be directed to the area. The declaration is usually accompanied by a request for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other agencies.
States and local governments need quick access to resources that can help them manage the disaster, prevent further harm, and return things to normal. Declaring a state of emergency helps elected leaders achieve their mission.
The term “state of emergency” has been used in a number of ways throughout history. In the United States, a governor can proclaim an emergency by executive order. In some cases, he can do so only when requested by the governing body of the affected agency or when he finds that the local authority is incapable of dealing with the emergency.
In other countries, a state of emergency can be declared for a specific period of time in response to civil unrest, armed conflict, or an infectious disease. It allows the government to put through policies it would normally not be allowed to do, although constitutional restrictions limit which rights are suspended. In Spain, there are three degrees of emergency: alarma (alarm), excepcion (exceptional circumstance) and sitio (siege).
During a state of emergency, the constitution may not be amended, new elections may not be held, or referendums can not take place. However, the parliament can revoke the state of emergency at any time.