Governor Kay Ivey Issues State Of Emergency Ahead Of Tropical Storm Zeta

by Summre Raines
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MONTGOMERY-On Tuesday, October 27 Governor Kay Ivey issued this statement concerning the Hurricane in the gulf

 “Ahead of Tropical Storm Zeta’s anticipated landfall Wednesday evening as a Category 1 hurricane, I am issuing a state of emergency effective today at 4:00 p.m. While this storm is not expected to have an impact as large as storms we’ve seen move through the Gulf earlier this year, we want to be in the best place possible to respond to anticipated rain, storm surge and mass power outage. I encourage everyone to remain weather aware and tuned in to their trusted news source as this storm could shift direction or change intensity. We continue to track the path of this storm and will stay in touch with the people of Alabama with any updates.”

STATE OF ALABAMA

PROCLAMATION

BY THE GOVERNOR

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 the State of Alabama is under imminent threat of Tropical Storm Zeta, which could become a hurricane, with the potential to make landfall in or near Mobile and Baldwin counties;

WHEREAS it is expected that the people of Alabama in the storm’s path will be exposed to a substantial risk of physical injury or death;

WHEREAS disruption of essential utility systems could occur, causing extreme peril to the citizens in the State;

WHEREAS this storm is expected to cause significant damage to public and private property and seriously disrupt essential utility services and systems;

WHEREAS Mobile and Baldwin Counties recently sustained substantial damage from Hurricane Sally, which made landfall in Baldwin County on Wednesday, September 16, 2020;

WHEREAS, due to the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus known as COVID19, a state public health emergency is currently in effect that has strained state and local resources and has required extraordinary measures to prevent the spread and mitigate the consequences of COVID-19;

WHEREAS those extraordinary measures include a series of emergency proclamations issued by me, as Governor of Alabama, in connection with the state public health emergency I proclaimed on March 13, 2020, the Order of the State Health Officer Suspending Certain Public Gatherings Due to Risk of Infection by COVID-19, and various local government orders and ordinances related to COVID-19 ( collectively “the COVID19 Orders”); and

WHEREAS this storm event, coupled with the COVID-19 public health emergency, poses extraordinary 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 the relevant provisions of the Alabama Emergency Management Act of 1955, as amended, Ala. Code SS 31-9-1 et seq., do hereby proclaim that a state of emergency exists in the State of Alabama, effective at 4:00 p.m. CDT on October 27, 2020. I direct the activation of the Alabama Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and all appropriate annexes for purposes of the State’s response to this storm event. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency State Emergency Operations Center shall be activated for purposes of responding to this incident, as shall be all affected or potentially affected Alabama Emergency Management Divisions.

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

  1. Applicability of cov1D-19 Orders

Because this storm event vvill occur during the State’s response to the COVID-19related public health emergency, I find that it would further promote the safety and protection of the people of Alabama to clarify the applicability of the COVID-19 Orders as they relate to this storm event. To that end:

  1. Any provision of the COVID-19 Orders is suspended to the extent that its application or en.forcement would endanger any person affected by this storm event or impede the ability of any individuals, governmental entities, organizations, or businesses responding to this storm event to preserve human life, to prevent or mitigate human suffering, or to protect or repai_r critical i_nfrastructure as defined by the U.S. Departrnent of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.
  2. Except as provided in this section, nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to modify, alter, or amend any provision of the COVID-19 Orders, which shall remain in full force and effect according to their terms.
  3. All persons responding to this storm event are encouraged to remain vigilant against the spread of COVID-19 and to comply with the COVID-19 Orders to the greatest extent possible, even when excused from compliance under this section. Shelters and community safe rooms should remain open and accessibile to all individuals seeking refuge from this storrn while implementing reasonable practices and procedures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among those seeking shelter.

Il. Activation of the Alabama National Guard and other state agencies

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

Ill. Price gouging

In accordance with sections 8-31-1 through 8-31-6 of the Code of Alabama, all persons are hereby placed on notice that it is unlawful for any person within the State of Alabarna to impose unconscionable prices (i.e., to engage in “price gouging”) for the sale or rental of any commodity or rental facility during the period of a declared state of emergency.

  1. Waiver of federal motor-carrier regulations

Pursuant to 49 CFR S 390.23, this declaration of a state of emergency facilitates a waiver of certain regulations of the U.S. Deparment of Transportaåon-Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FNßCA), including 49 C.F.R. Part 395 (Hours of Service for Drivers), as it relates to the provision of emergency-or disaster-related materials, supplies, goods, and services for this storm event. The waiver for this event shall terminate at the earliest of (1) the conclusion of the motor carrids or driver’s direct assistance in providing emergency relief; (2) 30 days from the initial declaration of emergency; (3) the issuance of a proclamation terminating this state of emergency; or (4) any other time dictated by the FMCSA’s regulations. Motor carriers that have an out-ofservice order in effect may not take advantage of the relief from regulation th_at this declaration provides under 49 C.F.R. S 390.23.

  1. Transportation of emergency equipment, supplies, etc.

I instruct the appropriate agencies to take necessary steps and issue the appropriate documents to expedite the movement of vehicles, or vehicles and loads, that are fransporting emergency equipment, services and. supplies, storm-related debris, building and consfruction materials, or temporary emergency buildings and their components, subject to the following rules:

  1. Docuxnents issued under authority of this proclamation shall be subject to approval and clearance by the Alabama Deparment of Transportation and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and shall cover specific designated state routes.
  2. The director of the Alabama Department of Transportation, or his designee, may issue waivers for vehicles or combinations of vehicles and loads, whether these loads are divisible or non-divisible, with dimensions, or combinations thereof exceeding the maximum limits specified by law.
  3. Transporters are responsible to ensure that they have proper oversize signs, markings, flags, a_nd escorts as defined in the State of Alabama’s• rules and regulations.
  4. Insurance requirements shall not be waived.
  5. Nothing in this proclamaåon shall be construed to allow any vehicle to exceed the weight limits posted for bridges and like structures, nor shall anything in this proclamation be consfrued to relieve any vehicle, or the carrier, owner, or driver of any vehicle from compliance with any restrictions other than those specified in this proclamation, or from any statute, rule, order, or other legal requirement not specifically waived herein.
  6. State government office closings

State government offices may be closed at the direction of the Governor. State agency heads •will receive instructions from the Governor’s Office or the State Personnel Director if closures are authorized.

VIl. Actual expense reimbursement

I find that it is fair, reasonable, and appropriate that those State of Alabama employees who are required to perform disaster recovery and response services away from their home base of operations for this event be reimbursed for the actual expenses they incur while performing these services on behalf of the State of Nabama. Therefore, I authorize the reimbursement of actual and necessary expenses, as prescribed by the Fiscal Policies and Procedures Manual, for state employees who have been, are being, or may be called away from their home base in response to this state of emergency. All such clairns for expense reimbursement must be reasonable and must be certified as such by the employee’s agency head or appoinüng authority. To the extent that this order conflicts with any provision of state law, such law is hereby suspended for the duration of this state of emergency, and this order shall control.

FURTHER, I declare that this proclamation, and all subsequent orders, laws, rules, or regulations issued pursuant hereto, shall remain in full force and effect for the duration of this state of emergency, except as otherwise expressly specified.

IN WITNESS, VWEREOF, 1 have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal to be affixed by the Secretary of State at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on this the 27th day of October, 2020.

Kay Ivey

Governor

 

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