Governor's Declaration: Declaration of Agricultural Disaster

EXECUTIVE ORDER

Declaring a State of Emergency to Provide Relief to Displaced Victims from Hurricane Katrina

WHEREAS, on August 29, 2005, hurricane Katrina made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in the Gulf Coast area of the United States;

WHEREAS, the hurricane made landfall with damaging winds over 145 miles per hour;

WHEREAS, the hurricane generated torrential rainfall and a measured storm surge of over twenty feet;

WHEREAS, substantial catastrophic flooding and wind damage occurred in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida;

WHEREAS, 80% of the city of New Orleans is under water with some areas inaccessible and storm breached canals and dikes continue to let water outflow into unprotected areas of New Orleans;

WHEREAS, tens of thousands of homeless victims of the hurricane needing shelter and food and water;

WHEREAS, the State of Utah desires to expend local resources to accommodate up to 2000 of these hurricane Katrina disrupted and now homeless evacuees;

WHEREAS, the State of Utah has activated and deployed National Guard resources to the disaster affected area;

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 impact of hurricane Katrina, 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 3rd day of September, 2005.

(State Seal)

Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.
Governor

ATTEST:

Gary R. Herbert
Lieutenant Governor

2005-0017