Emergency declarations

39 counties now under a Governor’s Emergency Proclamation

June 9, 2008 -- (DES MOINES) - Today, Iowa Governor Chet Culver added eight counties to the list of counties that have been proclaimed emergency disaster areas. The additional counties are: Mitchell, Clayton, Kossuth, Wright, Hamilton, Bremer, Linn, and Iowa.

The list previously included: Fremont, Page, Montgomery, Adams, Union, Clarke, Marion, Johnson, Jasper, Polk, Dallas, Crawford, Boone, Story, Marshall, Tama, Benton, Dubuque, Delaware, Buchanan, Blackhawk, Hardin, Webster, Humboldt, Franklin, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Chickasaw, Winneshiek and Worth.    » read more »

May 29, 2008 -- Lincoln, Neb. -- Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman has declared a state of emergency in response to severe weather that unleashed several confirmed tornados this evening in the central Nebraska area of Kearney and Aurora.

The Governor is expected to travel to the area tomorrow to survey storm damage.    » read more »

05/24/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued another proclamation related to the Summit Fire after flames crossed into Santa Clara County. The Governor issued a similar proclamation on Thursday for Santa Cruz County.

Smoke from the Summit fire seen from Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, May 22, 2008: Photo by lemurdillo (CC)    » read more »

05/22/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement and proclamation:

"I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the brave firefighters. As I've said many times before, we have the most courageous, talented and best trained firefighters in the world. They are doing a great job fighting the Summit Fire.

"My administration is working closely with federal and local officials, including Congresswoman Eshoo, Congressman Honda, Senator Maldonado and Assemblymember Laird. We are aggressively battling this fire from the onset. We are putting extra resources on this fire, and we will continue to mobilize and coordinate all the resources necessary to fight it."    » read more »

May 12, 2008 -- ATLANTA – Today Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in seven additional counties affected by tornadoes that struck on Sunday. The seven counties are Clayton, Crawford, Emanuel, Glynn, Jenkins, McIntosh, and Twiggs. The announcement follows an emergency declaration released on Sunday declaring six Georgia counties in a state of emergency: Bibb, Carroll, Douglas, Jefferson, Johnson and Laurens.

“We are working together to ensure response efforts reach all Georgians affected by these storms,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Joint local, state and federal assessment teams will continue to determine the full scope of the damage to businesses, state facilities and residences.”    » read more »

April 29, 2008 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci this evening has declared a State of Emergency for Aroostook County.

Severe storms, combined with snow on the ground, have created dangerous flooding conditions in Aroostook County, and particularly in the Fort Kent and Wallagrass areas.

“The National Weather Service is predicting that parts of Aroostook County could be hit by record flooding,” Governor Baldacci said. “The Maine Emergency Management Agency and my office are monitoring the situation and working closely with local emergency management officials to protect public safety.”    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter tonight declared the fire burning in Crowley County a state emergency and made $500,000 available from the State Disaster Emergency Fund.

The funds will be used to help defray firefighting and recovery costs in and around Ordway.

Gov. Ritter also has directed the Colorado Division of Emergency Management to seek any available federal assistance, including Small Business Administration loans, to help those who sustain damage from the fire.

"We will be doing all we can to assist the people of Ordway and Crowley County as they try to bring this fire under control," Gov. Ritter said.

Source: Colorado Governor

April 11, 2008 -- (Oklahoma City) -- In the wake of severe storms across the state, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today declared a state of emergency to exist in 38 Oklahoma counties due to tornadoes, severe storms and flooding which began on April 9.

Gov. Henry also amended a March 27, 2008 executive order by adding two counties, Hughes and Pawnee, to the list of those counties experiencing severe storms and flooding since March 17.

Flooding in Oklahoma: Photo by April Harris (CC)    » read more »

April 7, 2008 -- JACKSON, Mississippi - Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour today declared a State of Emergency for 12 Mississippi counties following a severe weather system and tornadoes which hit parts of Central Mississippi, including the Jackson Metro area. The Governor announced the State of Emergency while touring neighborhoods in Northeast Jackson, which were among the hardest-hit areas from Friday’s storm and tornadoes.

Tornado formation in Mississippi: Photo by Fujoshi (CC)    » read more »

April 4, 2008 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi) - Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour today declared a State of Emergency for 33 Mississippi counties in anticipation of flooding of the Mississippi River, Yazoo River, and tributaries caused by rising waters due to rainfall in the upper Mississippi River Basin and Ohio River Basin.

Flooding on the Mississippi River: Photo by wcm1111 (CC)    » read more »

March 18, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Governor Matt Blunt signed two State of Emergency Executive Orders for the severe weather and flooding that has struck Missouri.

The executive orders activate the State Emergency Operations Center allowing state agency resources to assist local jurisdictions with their emergency response, and activate the Missouri National Guard to assist with protective action.    » read more »

State Operations Center Activated in Response to Friday’s Severe Weather

March 15, 2008 -- ATLANTA – Today Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in the affected Atlanta area damaged by a tornado that struck last night.    » read more »

March 13, 2008, WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that the President declared an emergency exists in the state of Illinois and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in the area struck by record snow and near record snow during the period of February 5-6, 2008.    » read more »

March 5, 2008 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today declared a state of emergency in the Commonwealth of Virginia, directing state agencies to take all necessary actions to aid in the response to severe weather that affected several areas last night.

A declaration of emergency allows the Governor to immediately deploy state personnel, equipment and other emergency response resources, and to coordinate state and local response to the event.    » read more »

February 13, 2008 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci has signed an Emergency Declaration allowing power crews from other states to come to Maine and to help restore electricity.

The Emergency Declaration was signed around 8 p.m. today to expedite power restoration for the approximately 66,900 households in the State currently without electricity. Lewiston, Augusta and Alfred are the hardest hit areas.    » read more »