EXECUTIVE ORDER
DECLARING A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE
BY WASHINGTON COUNTY MAYOR
WILLIAM J. GRANDY
DECEMBER 26, 2022
WHEREAS, this Executive Order Declaring a Local State of Emergency is made by the Mayor of Washington County, Tennessee, for the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Jonesborough Utility Department serves approximately 13,000 homes in Washington County via 500 linear miles of water line; and
WHEREAS, on Thursday, December 22, 2022 a winter weather system traveled through Tennessee, bringing cold temperatures with dangerous wind chills and energy impacts; and
WHEREAS, on Friday, December 23, 2022, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) activated the State Emergency Operations Center; and
WHEREAS, on Monday, December 26, 2022, the Washington County Emergency Management Operations Center was activated and Washington County personnel are supporting response efforts and resource requests supporting the ongoing situation and assisting local officials with any needs or resource requests; and
WHEREAS, the Jonesborough Town Administrator Glenn Rosenoff has advised that a number of water customers in Washington County will experience outages as lines are checked for leaks; and
WHEREAS, in consideration of the impact of the winter weather system on the local energy and utility infrastructure and the health, safety, and welfare of residents of Washington County, it is in the public interest that the Local State of Emergency be declared by the Mayor of Washington County, Tennessee, pursuant to authority of Tenn. Code Ann. § 58-8-104, Tenn. Code Ann. § 58-2-110(3)(A), and such other authority granted by law vested in the Mayor of Washington County, Tennessee, for the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, William J. Grandy, Mayor of Washington County, Tennessee, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me, issue this Order Declaring a Local State of Emergency for the area within the unincorporated limits of Washington County, Tennessee.
1. This Local State of Emergency shall commence on December 27, 2022 at 12:01 a.m. to continue in effect until January 2, 2023 at 11:59 p.m., or until rescinded, but limited to seven (7) days unless it is necessary to extend it by subsequent Executive Order for additional seven (7) day increments as permitted by law.
2. As authorized by Tenn. Code Ann. § 58-2-110(3)(A), Washington County Government may take certain actions, including, but not limited to, the following:
i) Appropriate and expend funds; make contracts; obtain and distribute materials and supplies for emergency management purposes; provide for the health and safety of persons and property, including emergency assistance to the victims of any emergency; and direct and coordinate the development of emergency management plans and programs in accordance with the policies and plans set by the federal and state emergency management agencies;
ii) Appoint, employ, remove, or provide, without or without compensation, coordinators, rescue teams, fire and police personnel, and other emergency management workers;
iii) Establish, as necessary, in addition to the primary emergency operating center, one (1) or more secondary emergency operating centers to provide continuity of government and direction and control of emergency operations; and
iv) Assign and make available for duty the offices and agencies of Washington County, including the employees, property, or equipment thereof relating to firefighting, engineering, rescue, health, medical and related services, police, transportation, construction, and similar items or services for emergency operation purposes, as the primary emergency management forces of Washington County for employment within or outside of Washington County.
v) Request state or federal assistance or, as needed, invoke emergency-related mutual-aid assistance in the event of an emergency affecting only one (1) political subdivision. Further, Washington County has the authority to waive the procedures and formalities otherwise required of Washington County by law pertaining to those acts identified in T.C.A. 58-2-110(3)(A)(v).
FURTHER, As the County Mayor of Washington County, Tennessee, I, William J. Grandy, may exercise the authority given me under Title 58 of the Tennessee Code to preserve the public safety and render all required and available assistance vital to the security, well-being, and health of the citizens of this County.
3. A determination that any provision of this Order is invalid will not affect the enforceability of any other provision of this Order. The remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. Any invalid provision shall be modified to the extent necessary for enforceability.
4. The Order was declared to be effective at 12:01 a.m., Eastern Daylight time, on December 27, 2022, and shall remain in effect until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight time, on January 2, 2023, unless it is necessary by subsequent Executive Order to extend the same for additional seven (7) day increments as permitted by law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the County of Washington, Tennessee, to be affixed this the 26th day of December, 2022.
__________________________________
William J. Grandy
Washington County, Tennessee Mayor