Declaring a State of Emergency Due to Potential Flooding, Utah Exec. Order No. 2018-8

This document was published in the October 15, 2018, issue (Vol. 2018, No. 20) of the Utah State Bulletin.

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Governor, Administration: Declaring a State of Emergency Due to Potential Flooding, Utah Exec. Order No. 2018-8

Issued: October 2, 2018

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EXECUTIVE ORDER

Declaring a State of Emergency Due to Potential Flooding

WHEREAS , the State of Utah is expecting storm impacts from the remnants of Hurricane Rosa to be seen across much of the state--including thunderstorms, heavy rain, flooding, and debris flows;

WHEREAS , the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for much of Utah, as well as the surrounding states of Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, California, Nevada, and Arizona;

WHEREAS , the National Weather Service warned that some communities are at increased risk of flash flooding due to changes in the landscape caused by wildfire burn scars across the state;

WHEREAS , flooding and debris flows pose imminent threats to public safety that may require the evacuation of individuals and businesses and may result in closed roadways, damaged bridges, and imperiled critical infrastructure;

WHEREAS , many communities have declared local states of emergency and have requested resources and support from the State of Utah's departments and agencies to assist in preparing for and dealing with this emergency;

WHEREAS , the Utah Division of Emergency Management has activated the State Emergency Operations Center and resources have been deployed, including the Utah National Guard, Utah Department of Transportation, sandbags, and barricades to areas where the impact is expected to be the greatest;

WHEREAS , declaring a state of emergency facilitates the protection of persons and property from the impacts of the storm and expedites the use of necessary state-level resources, as well as the deployment of federal and interstate resources;

WHEREAS , the declaration of emergency also permits the State of Utah to request and receive mutual aid assistance from other states through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, if required;

WHEREAS , the declaration of emergency facilitates the immediate procurement and deployment of goods and services necessary to ensure a prompt and effective response to, and recovery from, this storm.

NOW, THEREFORE , I, Gary R. Herbert, Governor of the State of Utah, pursuant to the power vested in me by the Constitution and the Laws of the State of Utah, do hereby order that:

It is found, determined and declared that a "State of Emergency" exists Statewide due to the threat of public safety, property, critical infrastructure, natural resources, and the environment. This State of Emergency is declared and effective immediately and shall remain in effect until I find the threat or danger has passed or the disaster reduced to the extent that emergency conditions no longer exist.

IN TESTIMONY, WHEREOF , I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Utah this 2nd day of October 2018.

(State Seal)

Gary R. Herbert
Governor

Attest:

Spencer J. Cox
Lieutenant Governor

2018/008/EO