Governor Jindal Issues State of Emergency Due to Imminent Flooding of Mississippi and Red Rivers
BATON ROUGE—Today, Governor Bobby Jindal issued a state of emergency due to the imminent threat of flooding along the Mississippi River, Red River and other state bodies of water.
PROCLAMATION NO. 205 BJ 2015
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STATE OF EMERGENCY – IMMINENT THREAT OF FLOODING ALONG MISSISSPPI RIVER, RED RIVER AND OTHER STATE BODIES OF WATER
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WHEREAS, the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, La. R.S. 29:721, et seq., confers upon the Governor of the State of Louisiana emergency powers to deal with emergencies and disasters, including those caused by fire, flood, earthquake or other natural or manmade causes, in order to ensure that preparations of this State will be adequate to deal with such emergencies or disasters and to preserve the lives and property of the people of the State of Louisiana;
WHEREAS, when the Governor determines that a disaster or emergency has occurred, or the threat thereof is imminent, La. R.S. 29:724(B)(1) empowers the Governor to declare a state of emergency by executive order or proclamation, or both;
WHEREAS, the National Weather Service has issued a flood warning along the length of the Mississippi River with predicted river crests well above flood stage in many locations which, combined with recent weather conditions across the middle of the nation, create the potential for major flooding along the Mississippi River;
WHEREAS, the National Weather Service has issued a flood warning along the Red River with predicted river crests near or above flood stage in many locations which, combined with recent weather conditions across the middle of the nation, create the potential for moderate flooding along the Red River;
WHEREAS, the National Weather Service has issued flood alerts for other bodies of water in the State, which have the potential for moderate or greater flooding;
WHEREAS, as the Mississippi River rises and then crests southward, the State Penitentiary at Angola will monitor this developing threat and implement flood protection measures necessary to protect inmates, staff, and residents;
WHEREAS, several parishes, including Concordia, East Carroll, Madison, Tensas, and West Feliciana, have declared states of emergency in order to assist residents in areas experiencing flooding, to implement necessary flood protection measures, prepare for additional flooding, and respond to any ongoing flooding;
WHEREAS, the State anticipates that additional parishes will declare states of emergency and that assistance may be needed to assist the parishes in their response to this developing threat.
NOW THEREFORE, I, BOBBY JINDAL, Governor of the State of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Louisiana, does hereby order and direct as follows:
SECTION 1: Pursuant to the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, R.S. 29:721, et seq., a state of emergency is hereby declared to exist statewide as a result of the flooding caused by this event, extending along the length of the Mississippi River, Red River and in other bodies of water throughout the State, and the effects of which continue to threaten the lives and property of the citizens of the State.
SECTION 2: The Director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) is hereby authorized to undertake any activity authorized by law which he deems appropriate in response to this declaration.
SECTION 3: All departments, commissions, boards, agencies and officers of the State, or any political subdivision thereof, including all levee boards, authorities, and districts in the designated emergency area, are authorized and directed to coordinate their actions through GOHSEP in response to this threat of flooding.
SECTION 4: This state of emergency extends from Wednesday, December 30, 2015 to Thursday, January 28, 2016, unless terminated sooner.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the City of Baton Rouge, on this 30th day of Decemeber, 2015.
Bobby Jindal______________
GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA
ATTEST BY
THE GOVERNOR
Tom Schedler__________
SECRETARY OF STATE
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