Inslee Declares State of Emergency

[Editor’s Note: As the rest of our state recovers from the recent storm that caused widespread flooding and wind damage, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, on Wednesday evening, issued a State of Emergency for the entire state. The heavy rain and high winds across the state were responsible for power outages (even here on Orcas), several injuries, and one death. The Proclamation orders into active state service the organized militia of Washington State (National Guard).]

PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR

15-15

WHEREAS, from November 13 through 18, 2015, a series of severe storms struck Washington State, producing high winds and extreme rainfall resulting in major flooding, saturated soils, landslides, stream bank and slope erosion, fallen tree limbs, broken and uprooted trees, and

WHEREAS, throughout the State, these storms caused three confirmed deaths, injuries to citizens, significant power outages, evacuations, temporary road closures and detours, rail line closures, ferry system and airline cancellations, and extensive damage to homes, businesses, public utilities, public facilities, electrical power systems, infrastructure, and property, in addition to creating sheltering needs for impacted citizens, threatening fragile and at-risk populations, and jeopardizing the health and safety of citizens with special medical needs; and

WHEREAS, erosion, landslides, and flooding resulting from these storms has been exacerbated in some areas of the State due to major wildfire damage in July through September 2015 that left large areas of land burned clear of trees and other vegetation; and

WHEREAS, blocked and damaged roadways caused by these storms resulted in limited access impacts complicating the provision of response and recovery efforts by emergency responders, businesses, and utilities to address the aftermath of these storms; and

WHEREAS, state agencies and local jurisdictions are coordinating resources to address damaged and blocked roadways, assess damage caused by the storms, and implement damage

WHEREAS, the storm damage and its effects continue to impact the life and health of our citizens, as well as the property and infrastructure of Washington State, all of which is a public disaster that affects life, health, property, or the public peace; and

WHEREAS, the Washington State Military Department activated the State Emergency Operations Center, implemented emergency response procedures, and is coordinating resources to support local officials in alleviating the immediate social and economic impacts to people, property, and infrastructure, and is continuing to assess the magnitude of the event.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jay R. Inslee, Governor of the state of Washington, as a result of the above-noted situation and under Chapters 38.08, 38.52, and 43.06 RCW, do hereby proclaim that a State of Emergency exists in all counties in the state of Washington, and direct the plans and procedures in the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan be implemented. State agencies and departments are directed to utilize state resources in accordance with the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and to do everything reasonably possible to assist affected political subdivisions in an effort to respond to and recover from the event.

As a result of this event, I also hereby order into active state service the organized militia of Washington State to include the National Guard and the State Guard, or such part thereof as may be necessary in the opinion of the Adjutant General, to perform such duties as directed by competent authority of the Washington Military Department in addressing this event.

Additionally, the Washington State Military Department, Emergency Management Division, is instructed to coordinate all incident-related assistance to the affected areas.

Signed and sealed with the official seal of the state of Washington this 18th day of November,

A.D. Two-thousand and Fifteen at Olympia, Washington.

By:

/s/

Jay Inslee, Governor