A state of emergency is a government declaration that identifies a situation in which certain behaviors are considered unacceptable under normal circumstances but are justified when they are done to address an ongoing emergency. For example, if you are fighting a fire in your house, you may break into neighbors’ homes and yards to get the water you need to fight the fire. These behaviors would be a violation of your neighbor’s civil rights under normal conditions but are justifiable during an emergency.
The state of emergency may affect the entire country or just a specific region. The New Zealand Civil Defence Emergency Management Act gives the government and local-body councils the power to declare a state of emergency, which alters some or all government operations and may restrict regular civil rights.
If you are living in a state of emergency because of a coronavirus pandemic, for instance, you will likely receive instructions from your local and national governments regarding how to protect yourself, what your duties are as a citizen, and how to comply with any restrictions. These instructions will depend on the individual situation, so pay attention to news media and stay informed.
A state of emergency also signals to public agencies that they will need additional funds and resources to manage the crisis. This is why many governments, including those of the United States, have laws allowing them to waive some federal rules and regulations during an emergency. For example, when the governor of New York declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he temporarily freed the state from some federal transportation laws and quorum requirements for meetings of public health officials.
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