Immunity for provision of structural, electrical, mechanical or other engineering services in connection with emergency. Time period of immunity

(a) As used in this section, “professional engineer” means a person licensed as a professional engineer under this chapter, and “public official” means a federal, state or municipal official (1) having or duly authorized to exercise executive authority, (2) responsible for coordinating emergency assistance, disaster relief or similar activities to protect the public safety, (3) responsible for law enforcement activities, or (4) responsible for conducting or coordinating building inspections in an area of this state in which a declared emergency, disaster or catastrophic event has occurred. (b) A professional engineer who, voluntarily and gratuitously and other than in the ordinary course of such professional engineer's employment or practice, provides structural, electrical, mechanical or other engineering services relating to any publicly or privately-owned structure, building or piping system, in connection with an emergency declared by the President of the United States under federal law or by the Governor under the laws of this state, when such emergency is caused by a hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, drought, fire, explosion, collapse or other disaster or catastrophic event in this state, at the request or with the approval of a public official acting in an official capacity, shall not be liable for civil damages for personal injury, wrongful death, property damage or other loss, provided such structural, electrical, mechanical or other engineering services are provided with reasonable care and within professionally recognized standards for such an emergency. (c) The legal protection provided in subsection (b) of this section applies only in the case of engineering services that are provided during the period of the declared emergency, including any extension of such period, or not later than ninety days following the end of such period or extension.