In case of any great public calamity, such as an extraordinary fire, flood, storm, epidemic, or other disaster, or interruption of contracts essential to the provision of daily transit service or catastrophic failure of revenue-producing equipment or facilities, the commission may, by resolution passed by a two-thirds vote of all its members, declare and determine that public interest and necessity demand the immediate expenditure of public money to safeguard life, health, or property, and thereupon proceed to expend or enter into a contract involving the expenditure of any sum needed in the emergency without observance of the provisions in this article regarding contracts, bids, advertisement, or notice.