Upon the proclamation by the mayor of a civil emergency resulting from a disaster caused by enemy attack, sabotage, or other hostile action, or by fire, flood, storm, earthquake, or other natural cause, and during the existence of such civil emergency, the mayor, in carrying out the provisions of RCW Chapter 38.52, shall have the power by order to enter into contracts and incur obligations necessary to combat such disaster, protect the health and safety of persons and property, and provide emergency assistance to the victims of such disaster. Such powers shall be exercised in the light of the exigencies of the situation without regard to time-consuming procedures and formalities prescribed by ordinance (excepting mandatory constitutional requirements), including, but not limited to, budget law limitations and requirements of competitive bidding and publication of notices pertaining to the performance of public work, entering into contracts, the incurring of obligations, the employment of temporary workers, the rental of equipment, the purchase of supplies and materials, the levying of taxes, and the appropriation and expenditures of public funds.