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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-127.•''o~~svF~`'' .t,~~i : ~: : QJ~ . .. • COUNTY QF 8llT7E, STATE .OF, C~-LIFQRN~A~ • ~~•. ~~~. ~~~4~ ~~+~T~+~~'•••.....,•~•' RC'SOllf11011 •~~.08-127 ~#a~~rar* RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE CONTINUING EXISTENCE OF THE LOCAL EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS FOR THE JUNE 2008 FIRESTORM (OPHIR-HUMBOLDT FIRES) AND THE JUNE 2008 BUTTE LIGHTNING COMPLEX; AND AUTHORIZING A LETTER TO URGE THE STATE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES TO APPEAL THE DENIAL OF A MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION WHEREAS, Section 8-5 of the Butte County Code empowers the Chair of the Butte County Board of Supervisors to proclaim the existence, or threatened existence of a local emergency when said County is affected, or likely to be affected, by a local emergency and the Board of Supervisors is not in session; and, WHEREAS, conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property have arisen within said County, in that commencing on or about, June 21, 200$ lighting strikes have caused numerous fires throughout Butte County; and, WHEREAS, the aforesaid conditions of extreme peril did warrant and necessitate the proclamation of the existence of a local emergency; and, WHEREAS, at the time of the commencement of the said local emergency the Board of Supervisors of Butte County was not in session and could not immediately be called into session; and, WHEREAS, the Chair of the Butte County Board of Supervisors did proclaim the existence of a local emergency within said County on the 22nd day of June, 2008 relating to what has been described as the fires associated with the June 2008 Butte Lighting Strike Complex, and the Board of Supervisors did ratify the action of said Board Chair on the 24th day of June 2008; and WHEREAS, the Chair of the Butte County Board of Supervisors also did proclaim the existence of a local emergency within said County on the 11'h day of June, 2008 relating to what has been described as the June 2008 Firestorm (Ophir-Humboldt Fires), and the Board of Supervisors did ratify the action of said Board Chair on the 16th day of June 2008; and, WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of California requested that the President of the United States issue an Emergency Declaration of Disaster for the fires associated with the June 2008 Butte Lightning Complex, and, that on June 28, 2008, the President did make such emergency declaration which addressed the wildfires beginning on June 20, 2008; and, WHEREAS, on August 13, 2008, the Governor of the State of California requested that the President of the United States issue a Major Federal Disaster Declaration for the State of California due to wildfires, including the Ophir and Humboldt Fires, with a retroactive date to May 22, 2008. WHEREAS, in a letter from FEMA, dated September 5, 2008, the request for a major disaster declaratian was denied; and, WHEREAS, the State has 30 days to appeal this decision; and, WHEREAS, it is hereby found that local resources are unable to cope with the effects of said emergencies; and, NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED AND ORDERED that the Proclamations of Existence of a Local Emergency with respect to both the June 2008 Butte Firestorm (~iphir-Humboldt Fires) arrd the June 2008 Butte Lightning Complex described above shall be deemed to continue to exist until its termination. IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED AND ORDERED that during the existence of said local emergencies the powers, functions and duties of the emergency organization of this County shall be those prescribed by state law, by charter, ordinances, and resolutions of this County, and by the County of Butte Emergency Plan. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the State Director of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Chair of the Board of Supervisors send a letter to the State Office of Emergency Services urging an appeal to the FEMA denial letter of September 5, 2008. IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors authorizes the Butte County Chief Administrative Officer to take all reasonable and necessary action to assist with this appeal. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that John H. Gulserian, Emergency Services Officer of the County of Butte, is hereby designated as the authorized representative of the County of Butte far the purpose of receipt, processing, and coordination of all inquiries and requirements necessary to obtain available State and Federal disaster assistance. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Butte County Board of Supervisors this 23rd day of September 2008, by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Connelly, Dolan, Kirk, Yamaguchi, and Chair Josiassen NOES: None ABSENT: None NOT VOTING: None CurtiJosiassen, Chair ATTEST: C. Brian Haix, Chief Administrative Of~icer and Clerk of t e Board df Sy~pervisors I i ~,~~?~ By ;~~' ~j',t~~~+'Yl ty '