State of North Carolina
ROY COOPER
GOVERNOR
January 3, 2018
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 31
DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

WHEREAS, current weather projections indicate that portions of the State of North Carolina will be significantly impacted by an approaching winter storm; and

WHEREAS, the projected winter storm constitutes a state of emergency as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat.166A-19.3(6) and 166A-19.3(19), and

WHEREAS, certain measures are necessary to ensure the protection and safety of  North Carolina residents and coordinate the emergency response among State and local entities and officials; and

WHEREAS, N.C. Gen. Stat. 166A-19.10 and 19.20 authorize the Governor to declare a state of emergency and exercise the powers and duties set forth therein to direct and aid in the response to, recovery from, and mitigation against emergencies.

NOW, THEREFORE, by the authority vested in me as Governor by the Constitution and the laws of the State of North Carolina, IT IS ORDERED:

Section 1.
Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. 166A-19.20, I hereby declare that a state of emergency, as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. 166A-19.3(6) and 166A-19.3(19), exists in the State of North Carolina due to the approach of a winter storm. The emergency area as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. 166A-19.3(7) and 166A-19.20(b) includes Anson, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chatham, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland,  Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Gates, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Stanly, Tyrrell, Union, Vance, Wake, Warren, Washington, Wayne, and Wilson counties ("the Emergency Area").

Section 2.
I order all state and local government entities and agencies to cooperate in the implementation of the provisions of this declaration and the provisions of the North Carolina Emergency Operations Plan (the "Plan").

Section 3.
I delegate to Erik A. Hooks, the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, or his designee, all power and authority granted to and required of me by Article IA of Chapter 166A of the North Carolina General Statutes for the purpose of implementing the Plan and deploying the State Emergency Response Team to take the appropriate actions necessary to promote and secure the safety and protection of the populace in North Carolina.

Section 4.
Further, Secretary Hooks, as chief coordinating officer for the State of North Carolina, shall exercise the powers prescribed in N.C. Gen. Stat. 143B-602.

Section 5.
I further direct Secretary Hooks or his designee to seek assistance from all agencies of the United States Government as may be needed to meet the emergency and seek reimbursement for costs incurred by the State in responding to this emergency.

Section 6.
I hereby order that this declaration be: (1) distributed to the news media and other organizations calculated to bring its contents to the attention of the general public; (2)promptly filed with the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, the Secretary of State, and the clerks of superior court in the counties to which it applies, unless the circumstances of the state of emergency would prevent or impede this; and (3) distributed to others as necessary to ensure proper implementation of this declaration.

Section 7.
This declaration does not prohibit or restrict lawfully possessed firearms or ammunition or impose any limitation on the consumption, transportation, sale or purchase of alcoholic beverages as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. 166A-19.30(c).

Section 8.
Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. 166A-19.23, this declaration triggers the prohibition against excessive pricing as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. 75-37 and 75-38 in the Emergency Area.

Section 9.
This declaration is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until rescinded.

IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, 1 have hereunto signed my name and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in the City of Raleigh, this Yd day of January in the year of our Lord two thousand and eighteen.

Roy Cooper
Governor
Elaine F. Marshall
Secretary of State