WSR 09-20-012

PROCLAMATION

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR


[ September 24, 2009 ]


PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR

09-04



WHEREAS, a semi truck struck the Beebe Bridge on US 97 at milepost 235 in Chelan County, Washington, on August 31, 2009, and caused extensive truss and beam damage and closure of the bridge to vehicle traffic for several weeks, which continues to impact the life and health of our citizens, as well as the property, and transportation infrastructure of Washington State; and


The estimated cost to repair the damage is $1,000,000, and the bridge repair project is expected to be complex and relatively lengthy. This emergency condition has eliminated vehicle traffic on the bridge and caused significant detours, delays, and inconvenience that affect public health and safety. Such conditions will persist until the repair work is completed and the bridge reopened to vehicles; and


It is necessary for the Washington State Department of Transportation to use emergency contracting procedures; and


The Washington State Department of Transportation is coordinating resources to repair the bridge to alleviate the immediate impacts upon the infrastructure and is continuing to assess the damage caused by this event; and


The bridge closure is a public disaster that affects the life, health, property or public peace


NOW, THEREFORE, I, Christine O. Gregoire, Governor of the state of Washington, as a result of the above-noted situation and under Chapters 38.52 and 43.06 RCW, do hereby proclaim that a State of Emergency exists in Chelan and Douglas 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 and to do everything reasonably possible to assist affected political subdivisions in an effort to respond to and recover from the event.
Signed and sealed with the official seal of the state of Washington this 24th day of September, A.D, Two Thousand and Nine at Olympia, Washington.

By:
Christine O. Gregoire

Governor
BY THE GOVERNOR:
Sam Reed
Secretary of State

     Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.

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