WHEREAS, beginning February 15, 2015, and continuing, a severe winter storm with significant snow fall accumulations, bitterly cold air and sub zero wind chills began tracking across the Commonwealth, with severe impacts to infrastructure, governmental properties, and private properties; and

 

WHEREAS, these conditions continue to endanger public health and safety with potential threats to public and private property; and

 

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

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Steven L. Beshear, 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 and emergency information and/or activities/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's Director and shall provide such personnel, vehicles, equipment and other resources needed to protect life and property and to ensure continuation, restoration and recovery of essential public services.

 

5. The Finance and Administration Cabinet is directed to provide assistance with incident/disaster resource management, procurements and contracting and to fund the urgent operational and/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 incident and in executing the provisions of this Executive Order.

 

6. The Division of Emergency Management is authorized to request assistance, federal, state, local, private sector, volunteer, and donated resources as may be available to minimize human suffering and to restore essential services to the general population and to assist state and local governments and individuals impacted by 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 government, 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. Relief shall be granted from the hours of service imposed upon the transporters of relief supplies, to include food, water, medicine, and other commodities within the affected area. This shall also include any utility vehicles responding to affected areas in response to power restoration and/or debris removal. This shall also apply to those truck drivers transporting goods for the restoration of utilities as part of the relief effort.

 

10. 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.

 

This order is effective February 15, 2015.

 

Signed,

 

 

Steven L. Beshear, Governor

 

Alison Lundergan Grimes, Secretary of State