MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday issued a State of Emergency effective at 12:00 p.m. CST on February 18, 2020 to aid in Alabama’s recovery efforts following the recent flooding. The SOE includes all 67 counties.

“The significant amount of rain that has fallen across Alabama over the last few weeks has caused flooding in several portions of the state. We assured our citizens that we would be prepared to help however needed, which is why I have decided to issue a State of Emergency,” Governor Ivey said. “This will allow a continued smooth recovery for our state, and I am confident it will aid the efforts already happening on the local level.”

The governor has also activated the Alabama Emergency Management Agency State Emergency Operations Center, as well as impacted or potentially impacted Alabama Emergency Management Divisions.

“The recent flooding has affected the lives of Alabamians in many parts of our state,” Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Brian Hastings said. “This State of Emergency will assist in connecting Alabama to the resources required to respond to current and future impacts caused by recent flooding throughout the state.”

By declaring a State of Emergency, Governor Ivey is directing the appropriate state agencies to exercise their statutory authority to assist the communities and entities impacted by the ongoing flooding and impact of the recent flooding. Among offering other assistance, the SOE issued by the governor allows local education authorities to appeal to the State Superintendent of Education for relief in fulfilling the local school calendar with respect to student days or employee days, or both, with no loss of income to employees.

                                                             STATE OF ALABAMA

                         PROCLAMATION

BY THE GOVERNOR

The governor encourages Alabamians to always tune in to their local forecasts and remain weather aware, especially as the state could potentially continue experiencing flooding in the foreseeable future.

WHEREAS the Alabama Emergency Management Act of 1955, as amended, confers upon the Governor the power to proclaim a state of emergency when a natural disaster of major proportions has occurred or is reasonably anticipated in the immediate future, see Ala. Code S 31-9-8 (1975);

WHEREAS beginning on February 1, 2020, the National Weather Service began forecasting that many areas of the State would experience flooding over a sustained period of time as a result of significant rainfall the State has received;

WHEREAS the National Weather Service’s forecast has proven accurate and many areas of the State now in fact are experiencing significant flooding and expect to continue experiencing significant flooding for the foreseeable future;

VATHEREAS this flooding event has caused, or is expected to cause, significant damage to public and private property and may seriously disrupt essential utility services and systems

WHEREAS this flooding event poses a danger to the health and safety of the people of Alabama and a high risk of physical injury or death; and

WHEREAS this flooding event therefore poses conditions of disaster and of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the State, and it is anticipated that these conditions, by reason of their magnitude, are, or are likely to be, beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of any single county, city and county, or city, and will require combined forces to combat, see Ala. Code S 31-9-3;

NOW THEREFORE, I, Kay Ivey, Governor of the State of Alabama, pursuant to section 8 of the Alabama Emergency Management Act of 1955, as amended, Ala. Code S 319-8, do hereby proclaim that a state of emergency exists in the State of Alabama, effective at 12:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday, February 18, 2020. I direct the activation of the Alabama Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and all appropriate annexes. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency State Emergency Operations Center shall be activated, as well as all impacted or potentially impacted Alabama Emergency Management Divisions.

FURTHER, I hereby proclaim and direct all of the following:

I hereby direct the Alabama National Guard to prepare to be activated on order of the Governor, and I direct the appropriate state agencies to exercise their statutory and regulatory authority to assist the affected communities and entities. I also direct the Alabama Emergency Management Agency to make the appropriate assessment of damages and seek the necessary state and federal assistance for the affected areas.

Media Release/Office of alabama governor Kay Ivey