system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What does it actually mean when a state “declares a state of emergency”?

I hear that phrase all the time. Most recently, governor McMaster of South Carolina declared a state of emergency in anticipation of hurricane Michael. I’m just wondering, what does that actually do? Simply raise awareness of the disaster? Does anything more practical happen automatically as a result? Government buildings, schools close, etc?
gpt
A state of emergency waives some legal procedures and requirements that would otherwise prevent the government from quickly stepping in to help affected areas.  In addition, a state of emergency can be used to effectively rapidly inact temporary "laws" that otherwise would not be permissable or contradict existing laws.

For example, contractors may be called in to assist cleanup/rebuilding important infrastructure bypassing the competitive bidding process (which is a massive time sink, see the i85 bridge collapse in Atlanta as an example), and the state government can call in federal millitary for assistance if needed.

In effect, declaring a state of emergency typically grants the state/local executive branch of government a lot of powers it normally wouldn't, as the interest of the public demands rapid action.