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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 97-544

THE GOVERNOR

Proclamation of Disaster Emergency

[27 Pa.B. 1788]

April 1, 1997

   Whereas, investigations made at my direction have disclosed that a severe winter storm with heavy accumulations of snow and high winds resulting in extensive road closures, utility outages, property damages and other adverse impacts upon the population in Northeastern Pennsylvania; and

   Whereas, the emergency situation throughout the Commonwealth has the potential for requiring the sheltering or evacuation of those citizens for their protection; and

   Whereas, the emergency situation may be of such magnitude or severity to render essential the Commonwealth's supplementation of county and municipal efforts and resources and the activation of all applicable state, county and municipal emergency response plans;

   Now, Therefore, pursuant to the provision of Subsection 7301(c) of the Emergency Management Services Code (35 Pa.C.S. Section 7101 et seq), I do hereby proclaim the existence of a disaster emergency in the following counties:  Monroe County, Pike County, Schuylkill County, Carbon County, Wayne County, Luzerne County, Chester County and Lackawanna County and I direct all Commonwealth departments and agencies to utilize all available resources and personnel as is deemed necessary to cope with the magnitude and severity of this emergency situation.

   Further, I hereby transfer up to $1,000,000 in unused appropriated funds to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. The aforementioned funds shall be used for disaster-related expenses incurred by the various state agencies and departments. These funds shall be credited to a special account established by the Office of the Budget. The time consuming bid and contract procedures and formalities normally prescribed by law shall be waived for the duration of the Proclamation, mandatory constitutional requirements excepted.

   Further, I hereby authorize the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to use all available equipment, resources and personnel of the Department, in whatever manner that he deems necessary, to ensure that all interstate, other federal and state highways in the Commonwealth are cleared of snow and any other obstructions resulting from this severe winter storm. In addition, I hereby waive any laws or regulations that would restrict the application and use of the Department's equipment, resources and personnel to assist local jurisdictions in clearing and removal of snow and other types of obstructions from non-state-owned highways. This assistance to local jurisdictions may be provided solely at the discretion of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation. However, this assistance does not apply to privately owned highways, roads, streets, or other types of property.

   Further, I direct that the emergency response and recovery aspects of the Commonwealth and all applicable county, municipal and other disaster response plans be activated and that all state, county and municipal actions taken to implement those plans be coordinated through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency; and

   Further, pursuant to the powers vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth, I hereby authorize the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania to place on state active duty for the duration of the emergency, such individuals and units of the Pennsylvania National Guard, as requested by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, to alleviate the danger to public health and safety caused by the aforementioned emergency.

   In particular, the Adjutant General is hereby authorized to use National Guard equipment, resources, and personnel to provide transportation to assist those segments of the general population that may be in need of medical or other types of emergency assistance as a result of the adverse impacts of this severe winter storm, and

   Still Further, I hereby urge the governing bodies and executive officers of all political subdivisions affected by this emergency to act as necessary to meet the current exigencies as legally authorized under this Proclamation, namely, by the employment of temporary workers, by the rental of equipment and by entering into such contracts and agreements as may be required to meet the emergency, all without regard to those time consuming procedures and formalities normally prescribed by law, mandatory constitutional requirements excepted.

   Given under my hand and the Seal of the Governor, at the City of Harrisburg, this first day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand nine-hundred and ninety-seven, and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and twenty-first.


Governor

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 97-544. Filed for public inspection April 11, 1997, 9:00 a.m.]


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