State of Emergency

WHEREAS, beginning on May 4, 2003 and continuing, strong spring storms producing tornados, severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and flooding moved across the Commonwealth of Kentucky resulting in loss of life and personal injury, widespread damages, power outages, damages to public and private property and road closures; and

WHEREAS, these conditions endanger public health and safety and threaten public and private property; and

WHEREAS, state and local governments share responsibility for protection of public health, safety, and security as well as for protection of public and private property and to take appropriate actions to ensure the provision of essential public services; and

WHEREAS, local emergency declarations have been issued by county and city officials in Breathitt, Carter, Crittenden, Fleming, Greenup, Hardin, Hart, Lewis, Mercer, Nicholas, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Robertson, Rowan and Webster (City of Clay) Counties in Kentucky:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, PAUL E. PATTON, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, by virtue of authority vested in me by the Constitution of Kentucky and by Chapter 39 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, do hereby declare that a State of Emergency exists in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and do hereby ORDER and DIRECT that:

1. The Division of Emergency Management within the Department of Military Affairs shall execute the Kentucky Emergency Operations Plan and, from the Kentucky Emergency Operations Center, shall coordinate the response and relief activities of all state agencies and private relief organizations in response to this emergency.

2. The Adjutant General is authorized to issue active duty orders for the mobilization of such National Guard personnel and equipment as he may determine to protect life and safety to continue essential public services and to prevent undue loss and suffering.

3. All state agencies shall coordinate any and all public information and emergency information activities and releases related to this emergency and the response efforts of state agencies with the Division of Emergency Management.

4. All state agencies shall provide any personnel required for the staffing of the Kentucky Emergency Operations Center or other command, control, and coordination points as may be designated by the Division of Emergency Management and shall provide such personnel, equipment and other resources needed to protect life and property and to ensure continuation of essential public services.

5. The Finance and Administration Cabinet is directed to fund the urgent operational or response costs of the Division of Emergency Management and the unbudgeted expenditures and obligations of other state agencies that are incurred in response to this emergency and in executing the provisions of this Executive Order.

6. The Division of Emergency Management is authorized to request such federal assistance as may be available to minimize human suffering and restore essential services to public through local governments resulting from this emergency.

7. The Division of Emergency Management shall consult with the American National Red Cross and local officials to determine the need for emergency shelters for displaced families and shall coordinate with local school boards and other organizations to determine the availability of schools and other facilities to be used as shelters during this emergency.

8. Transportation on and access to any and all public roadways in the affected area may be restricted or prohibited in the interest of public health and safety.

9. The Kentucky Community Crisis Response Board (KCCRB) is directed to activate their network of trained counselors to provide crisis response services to citizens in the affected area.

______________________________________

PAUL E. PATTON, Governor

Commonwealth of Kentucky

_____________________________

JOHN Y. BROWN III

Secretary of State