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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLocal Disaster Emergency Declaration Eagle County, CO 202003673 Regina O'Brien 03/09/2020 Pgs: 2 09:47:05 AM REC: $0.00 DOC: $0.00 Eagle County, Colorado Local Disaster Emergency Declaration WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that originated in China and has since spread to numerous countries around the world, including the United States; and WHEREAS, the virus may cause serious illness or death in certain cases, particularly where the elderly and persons with underlying health conditions contract it; and WHEREAS, On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 a "public health emergency of international concern;" and on January 31, 2020, the United States Department of Health and Human Services declared the virus a public health emergency; and WHEREAS, on March 6, 2020, Eagle County Public Health and Environment confirmed a case of COVID-19 within the county and public health experts anticipate that, due to the contagiousness of the illness and the fact that numerous travelers from around the world visit the county, Eagle County will continue to see cases of the virus and its transmission within the community; and WHEREAS, Eagle County anticipates that without appropriately responding to the illness, numbers of cases within the county will rise, may result in serious illness or death for certain members of the community, and also may have the effect of interrupting the functioning of the community in terms of work attendance, school attendance, and the like; and WHEREAS, the cost and magnitude of responding to and recovering from the impact of the ensuing event is far in excess of the county's available resources; and WHEREAS, Colorado law provides for declaring a local disaster emergency to assist local governments in responding to and recovering from emergency events, including epidemics; and WHEREAS, pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-33.5-709(1) "A local disaster may be declared only by the principal executive officer of a political subdivision. It shall not be continued or renewed in excess seven days except by or with the consent of the governing board of the political subdivision"; and WHEREAS, "The effect of a declaration of local disaster emergency is to activate the response and recovery aspects of any and all applicable local and interjurisdictional disaster and emergency plans and to authorize the furnishing of aid and assistance under such plans." C.R.S. § 24-33.5-709(2). NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT DECLARED by the County Manager of Eagle County, Colorado: THAT, it is hereby determined and declared that the presence of the COVID-19 virus within Eagle County constitutes a local disaster emergency that warrants the mobilizing of emergency response and the furnishing of aid and assistance. THAT, this Declaration shall be promptly filed with the Eagle County Clerk and Recorder and with the Colorado Office of Emergency Management. THAT, this Declaration shall remain in effect for a period of seven (7) days unless continued or renewed in excess of this time period by action of the Board of County Commissioners for Eagle County. THAT, this Declaration is necessary for the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the County of Eagle, State of Colorado. DECLARED this 6th day of March , 2020 AT EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO AT 3:29pm. Eagle County, Colorado By and through its County Manager /Lti2 Jeff Shroll, County Manager 1