THE GOVERNOR
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
[28 Pa.B. 2802]
Proclamation Disaster Emergency June 2, 1998
Whereas, Ongoing investigations made at my direction have disclosed that widespread and unusually heavy winds caused by a severe weather system on or about May 31, 1998 that included a series of confirmed tornadoes, have resulted in extensive damage to private homes, businesses, public infrastructures, utility outages, road closures, and other adverse impacts upon the general population in Northeastern, South-central, and Southeastern Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, the emergency situation throughout the Commonwealth has the potential for requiring the sheltering of those citizens for their protection; and
Whereas, the emergency situation has been of such magnitude and severity as 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 provisions 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 affected areas of Berks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Monroe, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Pike and Somerset Counties, 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 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, obstructions resulting from this severe 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 debris 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 have directed that the emergency response and recovery aspects of the Commonwealth and all applicable county, municipal and other disaster emergency response and recovery 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 this Commonwealth, I hereby authorize the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania to place on state active duty for the duration of the emergency/disaster proclamation, 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.
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, this second day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and twenty-second.
Governor
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-953. Filed for public inspection June 19, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]
[28 Pa.B. 2803]
Amendment to Proclamation June 3, 1998
Whereas, on May 31, 1998, a severe weather system that included a series of confirmed tornadoes struck several counties in Northeastern, South-central, and Southeastern Pennsylvania and caused extensive damage to private homes, businesses, public infrastructure and posed other adverse impacts upon the general population of those counties; and
Whereas, due to the severe weather system and resultant extensive damage in the above described areas of the Commonwealth, I declared a State of Disaster Emergency in nine counties of the Commonwealth on June 2, 1998; and
Whereas, a second severe weather system that included additional tornadoes struck other areas of the Commonwealth during the evening of June 2, 1998, causing additional damage to private homes and public infrastructure, and resulting in utility outages, road closures, and other adverse life safety impacts for the general population of Allegheny, McKean and Wyoming Counties; and
Whereas, investigations by state agencies of recently developing conditions indicate that additional resources of the Commonwealth may be needed to assist county and municipal efforts to mitigate and contend with the magnitude and severity of this expanding disaster emergency.
Now Therefore, Pursuant to the provisions of Subsection 7301(c) of the Emergency Management Services Code (35 Pa.C.S. Section 7101 et. seq.), I do hereby amend my Proclamation of June 2, 1998, as follows:
The counties of Allegheny, McKean, and Wyoming are now declared to be in a state of disaster emergency and are added to the previously designateddisaster emergency area. This Proclamation Amendment shall take effect immediately.
Given, under my hand and the Seal of the Governor, at the City of Harrisburg, this third day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and twenty-second.
Governor
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-954. Filed for public inspection June 19, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]
[28 Pa.B. 2804]
Amendment to Proclamation June 5, 1998
Whereas, on May 31, 1998, a severe weather system that included a series of confirmed tornadoes struck several counties in Northeastern, South-central, and Southeastern Pennsylvania and caused extensive damage to private homes, businesses, public infrastructure and posed other adverse life safety impacts upon the general population of those counties; and
Whereas, on June 2, 1998, a second severe weather system that included additional tornadoes struck other areas of the Commonwealth and caused additional damage to private homes, businesses, public infrastructure and posed other adverse life safety impacts for the general population of the Commonwealth to the extent that Allegheny, McKean and Wyoming counties were added to the previously designated emergency area; and
Whereas, the cumulative impacts of the two severe weather systems and their accompanying tornadoes caused scattered and on occasion isolated pockets of damage and destruction to occur to private and public property in other areas of the Commonwealth not previously identified by damage assessment teams as having suffered damage or destruction; and
Whereas, there continues to be a need for the Commonwealth's augmentation of county and municipal efforts and resources and the continuing activation of all applicable state, county, and municipal emergency response plans in order to mitigate and contend with the magnitude and severity of this expanding disaster emergency; and
Whereas, the severe weather systems which struck the Commonwealth on May 31, 1998, and June 2, 1998, have resulted in the interruption of necessary utility services to a large number of Commonwealth communities.
Now Therefore, pursuant to the provisions of Subsection 7301(c) of the Emergency Management Services Code (35 Pa.C.S. Section 7101 et. seq.), I do hereby amend my Proclamation of June 2, 1998, as follows:
1. The counties of Beaver and Northumberland are now declared to be in a state of disaster emergency and are added to the previously designated disaster emergency area.
2. I direct that the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency coordinate the activities of the various agencies of the Commonwealth to take appropriate action aimed at the alleviation of human suffering, the removal and/or disposal of dangerous or hazardous debris or other forms of hazardous substances or materials found to be located in disaster designated areas, the restoration of essential public services, and the preparation of damage assessment reports concerning the economic, financial, public safety, and other impacts caused to Pennsylvania by these two severe weather systems.
3. I hereby grant temporary complete reciprocity, in relation to the registration of motor vehicles and liquid fuels and fuels permits for motor vehicles, to all utility service vehicles entering this Commonwealth from other states to assist in the restoration of these necessary and vital utility services in the Commonwealth. This temporary complete reciprocity shall be retroactive to May 31, 1998.
Given, under my hand and the Seal of the Governor, at the City of Harrisburg, this fifth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight and of the Commonwealth and the two hundred and twenty-second.
Governor
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-955. Filed for public inspection June 19, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]
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