PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, winds and weather in area change often;
WHEREAS, the wild fire has already caused the destruction of some
homes and has the potential to cause injuries to the citizens and
additional property in Benton County and the City of Richland;
WHEREAS, Benton County requested National Guard support to provide
security and crowd control, additional fire fighting resources
and other additional resources as needed;
WHEREAS, the Washington State Military Department has activated
the state Emergency Operations Center, implemented response
procedures, and is coordinating resources to support local
officials in alleviating the immediate social and economic
impacts to people, and property, and is assessing the magnitude
of the event;
WHEREAS, the Adjutant General has authorized mobilization of fire
service resources under chapter 38.54 RCW and the Washington
State Military Department has activated the state Emergency
Operations Center, and implemented response procedures, and the
Washington State Patrol Fire Protection Bureau is coordinating
resources to support local officials in alleviating the immediate
social and economic impacts to people, and property, and is
assessing the magnitude of the event;
WHEREAS, under the provisions of RCW 43.06.220, I do hereby
authorize Washington Emergency Management to establish Food
Control Areas around the areas likely to have been contaminated
above protective action guidelines. The Washington State
Departments of Health and Agriculture are authorized to issue
food embargoes for the Food Control Area to reduce the
possibility of adulterated food from leaving the Food Control
Area. Law enforcement agencies are authorized to stop and
inspect vehicles departing an identified Food Control Area and to
direct the vehicle operators to return food produced or grown to
its point of origin within the Food Control Area; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gary Locke, Governor of the state of Washington,
as a result of the aforementioned situation and under chapters
38.08, 38.24, 38.52, 38.54, and 43.06, do hereby proclaim that a
State of Emergency exists in Benton County and direct the
supporting plans and procedures to the Washington State
Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan be implemented. This
Proclamation supercedes Fire Mobilization Mission Number
001530-Hanford Fire, declared by the Adjutant General on June 28,
2000 at 7:40 p.m. Funding and resourcing authority reverts to
the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. 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. I also hereby order into active state service the
Washington National 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. Additionally, the
Washington State Military Department, Emergency Management
Division is instructed to coordinate all event-related assistance
to the affected areas.
| IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the state of Washington to be affixed at Olympia, this 28th day of June, A.D., Two Thousand. | ||
| Gary Locke Governor of Washington |
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BY THE GOVERNOR:
Assistant Secretary of State |
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