BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -
The heavy
rains that have caused flooding in many parts of Louisiana, including the Baton
Rouge area, prompted Gov. Bobby Jindal to declare a state of emergency.
The
emergency order allows the use of state money to deal with flooding and storm
damages in different parishes.
Some areas
saw up to a foot of rain, causing rivers to rise and streets to flood.
More rain
is forecast for Sunday and Monday in the Capital area.
Below is
the declaration issued by Jindal:
STATE OF
EMERGENCY – SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOODING
WHEREAS,
the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, 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 this 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, R.S. 29:724(B)(1) empowers the Governor to declare
a state of emergency by executive order or proclamation, or both;
WHEREAS,
beginning on Tuesday, January 8th and continuing through this date, a prolonged
series of strong thunderstorms have passed over the State, depositing several
inches of rain across widespread areas of the State, with the threat of
tornadoes, flooding and flash flooding causing road closures and creating
dangerous conditions for motorists statewide;
WHEREAS,
the National Weather Service has issued alerts including special weather
statements, tornado watches, flood warnings and flash flood warnings for much
of the State, and flood stage conditions for rivers and bayous in southern
Louisiana;
WHEREAS,
the parishes of Acadia, Avoyelles, Concordia, East Carroll, Evangeline,
Livingston and St. Landry, have declared states of emergency in order to assist
residents in areas already experiencing flooding from this event and to
implement necessary flood protection measures to protect their citizens, prepare
for additional flooding, and respond to ongoing flooding;
WHEREAS,
the State anticipates additional parishes will declare states of emergency and
that assistance may be needed to assist the parishes in their response to this
continuing threat;
NOW
THEREFORE, I, BOBBY JINDAL, 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, R.S. 29:721, et seq., a state of emergency is hereby declared to
exist statewide, as a result of the current flooding and developing threat of
additional flooding, that threatens 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 is hereby authorized to undertake any activity authorized by law
which he deems appropriate in response to this declaration.
SECTION 3:
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 4:
This state of emergency extends from Thursday, January 10, 2013 to Saturday,
February 9, 2013, unless terminated sooner.
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal
of the State of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the City of Baton Rouge, on this
10th day of January, 2013.
____________________________
GOVERNOR OF
LOUISIANA
ATTEST BY
THE
GOVERNOR
_______________________
SECRETARY
OF STATE
Copyright
2013 WAFB. All rights
reserved.
