STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

ROY COOPER
GOVERNOR

September 7, 2018

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 51
DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina is under imminent threat from Tropical Storm Florence, which has the potential td make landfa ll next week; and

WHEREAS, it is expected that the people of North Carolina in the storm's path will be exposed to a substantial risk of injury or death; and

WHEREAS, it is expected that the tropical storm will cause significant damage to public and private property and may seriously disrupt essential utility services and systems; and

WHEREAS, the potential impacts from Tropical Storm Florence constitute a state of emergency as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 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. §§ I 66A- I 9. I 0 and I 66A- I 9.20 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 I.

I hereby declare that a state of emergency, as de fin ed in N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ I 66A- l 9.3(6) and 166A- 19.3(19), exists in the State of North Carolina.

The emergency area. as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ I 66A- l 9.3(7) and I 66A- l 9.20(b), is the State of North Carolina. ( .. the Emergency Area··).

Section 2.

I order all state and local government ent1t1es and agencies to cooperate in the implementation of the provisions of this declaration and the provisions or the North Carolina Emergency Operations Plan ( .. the Plan .. ).

Section 3.

I delegate to Erik A. Hooks, the Secretary of the North Carolina Depa11ment of Public Safety,

or his designee, all power and authority granted to and required of me by Article I A of Chapter I 66A 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 No11h 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. § 1438-602.

Section 5.

I further direct Secretary Hooks or his designee to seek assistance from any and 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: ( I) distributed to the news media and other organizations calculated to bring its contents to the attention of the general public; (2) promptly fi led with the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, the Secretary of State, and the superior court clerks 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. § I 66A-l 9.30(c).

Section 8.

Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § I 66A- I 9.23, 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. I 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 7th day of September in the year of our Lord two thousand and eighteen.

Roy Cooper
Governor

ATTEST:

Rodney S. Maddox
Chief Deputy Secretary of State