Governor's Executive Order 2005-0013: State of Emergency

EXECUTIVE ORDER

State of Emergency

WHEREAS, heavy winter snowpack has accumulated in the mountains throughout Utah, creating a potential for heavy spring runoff;

WHEREAS, unusually heavy spring rainstorms compounded the problems, causing widespread flooding, damaging erosion, and several major landslides;

WHEREAS, sustained flood fighting efforts occurred between January 8 and June 13, 2005, and are ongoing;

WHEREAS, substantial State assistance was provided to Tooele, Cache, Box Elder, Utah, Wasatch, Kane, Morgan, and Beaver Counties;

WHEREAS, substantial sustained State assistance was provided to Sevier, Iron and Uintah Counties, and to the Ute Indian Reservation;

WHEREAS, the State Legislature passed House Bill 240, providing low interest disaster loans of up to $25 million dollars to Washington County, at the onset of the flooding;

WHEREAS, State assistance has come from the Utah Department of Transportation, the Utah National Guard, the Department of Public Safety and the Division of Emergency Services, the Utah Department of Health, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, the Utah Department of Natural Resources; in the form of road repairs, landslide technical assistance and monitoring, potable water hauling, provision of emergency access to flood stricken areas, diversion of floodwaters, and the provision of equipment and supplies for emergency protective measures;

NOW THEREFORE, I, Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., Governor of the State of Utah by virtue of 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 spring snowmelt and rainfall floods, requiring aid, assistance and relief available pursuant to the provisions of state statutes, and the State Emergency Operations Plan, which is hereby activated.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Utah this 17th day of June, 2005.

(State Seal)

Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.
Governor

ATTEST:

Gary R. Herbert
Lieutenant Governor

2005/0013