STATE OF LOUISIANA
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
PROCLAMATION NUMBER 183 JBE 2022

STATE OF EMERGENCY - SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES
DECEMBER 13, 2022

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 the 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(8 )(1) empowers him to declare a state of emergency by executive order or proclamation, or both;

WHEREAS, the National Weather Service indicated a high risk of numerous severe thunderstorms beginning on the late evening of Tuesday, December 13, 2022 throughout the night into most of the day on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, with the possibility of tornadoes, damaging winds gust, excessive rain, and moderate to large hail;

WHEREAS, by Tuesday night, it was reported that one or more tornadoes had touched down in Caddo, near Four Forks, Louisiana, with several more tornadoes having been reported in Union, Rapides, Madison, East Carroll, and Franklin parishes;

WHEREAS, the tornadoes caused significant damage and power outages throughout northwest and northcentral Louisiana, with a report of two known deaths related to these tornadoes;

WHEREAS, the Louisiana Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) stood up Incident Support Teams to conduct search and rescue in the area-. surrounding areas that were hit by tornadoes;

WHEREAS, severe damage was caused by the tornados to the safety, health, and security of the citizens of the state, along with damage to private property and public facilities;

WHEREAS, this weather event is on-going, in that the National Weather Service anticipates continuous mild to heavy thunderstorms throughout the day, with the potential of more tornadoes, damaging winds, and excessive rain which could cause flooding; and

WHEREAS, the state anticipates that several parishes will declare states of emergency and will need assistance in their response to this developing threat.

NOW THEREFORE, I, JOHN BEL EDWARDS, Governor of the State of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:
 
SECTION 1: Pursuant to the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, La. R.S. 29:721, et seq., a state of emergency is hereby declared to exist in the State of Louisiana as a result of the imminent threat of emergency conditions that 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 that he deems appropriate in response to this declaration.

SECTION 3: Pursuant to the La. R.S. 29:732, during a declared state of emergency, the prices charged or value received for goods and services sold within the designated emergency area may not exceed the prices ordinarily charged for comparable goods and services in the same market area at or immediately before the time of the state of emergency, unless the price by the seller is attributable to fluctuations in applicable commodity markets, fluctuations in applicable regional or national market trends, or to reasonable expenses and charges and attendant business risk incurred in procuring or selling the goods or services during the state of emergency.

SECTION 4: Pursuant to La. R.S. 29:724(0)(1), the Louisiana Procurement Code (La. R.S. 39:1551, et seq.) and Louisiana Public Bid Law (La. R.S. 38:2211, et seq.) and their corresponding rules and regulations are hereby suspended for the purpose of the procurement of any good or services necessary to respond to this emergency, including emergency contracts, cooperative endeavor agreements, and any other emergency amendments to existing contracts.

SECTION 5: All departments, commissions, boards, agencies and officers of the State, or any political subdivision thereof, are authorized and directed to cooperate in actions the State may take in response to the effects of this severe weather event.

SECTION 6: This order is effective upon signature and shall remain in effect from Tuesday, December 13, 2022, to Thursday, January 12, 2022, unless terminated sooner.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of Louisiana in the City of Baton Rouge, on this 13th day of December, 2022.

John Bel Edwards
GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA

ATTEST BY

THE SECRETARYOF STATE
SECRETARY OF STATE