2021 Declaration of Disaster Emergency

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DECLARATION OF LOCAL DISASTER EMERGENCY IN AND FOR THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE WHEREAS, Chapter 2.32 of the Louisville Municipal Code and C.R.S. § 24-33.5-801, et seq. authorizes the Mayor of the City of Louisville to declare that a disaster emergency has occurred or the threat of such event is imminent; and WHEREAS, on December 30, 2021, strong wind gusts in Boulder County downed power lines and transformers, sparking a wildfire referred to as the Marshall Fire by emergency response personnel and forcing evacuation of more than 30,000 people from their homes, including the entire City of Louisville; and WHEREAS, also on this date, the Governor of the State of Colorado issued a Declaration of Emergency in response to the Marshall Fire; and WHEREAS, the cost and magnitude of responding to and recovery from the impact of the Marshall Fire may be far in excess of the City WHEREAS, declaration of a local disaster emergency will assist and permit access to local emergency funds, Federal and State assistance, adjustments to policies, procedures, and WHEREAS, it is appropriate and in the interests of the public health and safety of the City and its residents to rapidly address the Marshall Fire and subsequent cascading impacts, such as economic distress, and to further protect the health and safety of the public by declaring an emergency in the City of Louisville; and WHEREAS, the Mayor of the City of Louisville, as principal executive officer of the City of Louisville, is authorized to unilaterally declare a local disaster pursuant to § 24-33.5-709, C.R.S. and Section 2.32.010 of the Louisville Municipal Code, and to activate the emergency management and operations plans and resolutions of the City. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: 1. There is hereby declared to be a local disaster emergency in the City of Louisville, to wit, the occurrence of imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property, resulting from the Marshall Fire requiring emergency action to avert danger or damage. 2. The effect of this Declaration shall be to activate the response and recovery aspects of any and all applicable local and inter-jurisdictional disaster emergency plans and to authorize the furnishing of aid and assistance under such plans, and for the Mayor, City Manager, and other appropriate City staff to exercise those functions and be vested with such authority as set forth in Section 2.32.010 of the Louisville Municipal Code and C.R.S. § 24-33.5- 709.