CITY OF SAN SABA, TEXAS
DECLARATION OF DISASTER DUE TO PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, in December 2019, a novel coronavirus, designated COVID-19, was detected in Wuhan, China; and
WHEREAS, on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization Director General declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, advising countries to prepare for the containment, detection, isolation and case management, contract tracing and prevention of onward spread of the disease; and
WHEREAS, on March 5, 2020, the World Health Organization Director General urged aggressive preparedness and activation of emergency plans to aggressively change the trajectory of this epidemic; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, Governor Abbott declared a state of disaster for all counties in the State of Texas due to COVID-19 posing an imminent threat of disaster in the state; and
WHEREAS, the Center for Disease Control and Preparation is closely monitoring the number of COVID-19 cases that have spread in the United States; and
WHEREAS, on March 20, 2020, Governor Abbot issued four orders to support his initial declaration, including avoiding social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people; avoiding eating and drinking in bars, restaurants and food courts, or visiting gyms or massage parlors (drive-thrus and deliveries excepted); not allowing visits to nursing homes or retirement or long term care facilities; and closing of schools. These orders will be effective on a statewide basis starting at 11:59 PM on March 20, 2020 and will end at 11:59 PM on April 3, 2020, subject to extension thereafter based on the status of COVID-19 in Texas and the recommendations of the CDC.
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 virus spreads between people who are in close contact with one another through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes; and
WHEREAS, large gatherings of unidentifiable individuals without necessary mitigation for the spread of infection may pose a risk for the spread of infectious disease; and
WHEREAS, the continued worldwide spread of COVID-19 presents an imminent threat of widespread illness, which requires emergency action; and
WHEREAS, Texas Government Code Chapter 418, Section 418.108, authorizes the Mayor of the City of San Saba, Texas, to declare a local state of disaster and exercise the powers granted therein on an appropriate local scale; and
WHEREAS, Section 418.004(a) of the Texas Government Code defines disaster as he occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or man-made cause, including fire, flood, earthquake, wind, storm, wave action, oil spill or other water contamination, volcanic activity, epidemic, air contamination, blight, drought, infestation, explosion, riot, hostile military or paramilitary action, extreme heat, cybersecurity event, other public calamity requiring emergency action, or energy emergency; and
WHEREAS, a declaration of local disaster includes the ability to take measures to reduce the possibility of exposure to disease, control the risk and promote the health and safety of individuals in the City;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DECLARED AND ORDERED, pursuant to the authority granted in the Texas Disaster Act of Texas Government Code Chapter 418, as follows:
1. A local state of disaster is hereby declared for the City of San Saba pursuant to Section 418.108(a) of the Texas Government Code.
2. By this declaration, the City of San Saba’s Emergency Management Plan is activated, and all other statutory and ordinance powers vested in me and all officers of the City to act in this local state of disaster are activated. This declaration shall also activate all recovery and rehabilitation aspects of all applicable local and interjurisdictional emergency management plans and authorizes the furnishing of all aid and assistance as deemed necessary and desirable by those administering such plans.
3. By this declaration, I declare all rules and regulations that may inhibit or prevent prompt response to this threat be suspended for the duration of this declaration and any extension thereof.
4. Pursuant to the authority granted to the Mayor under the Texas Disaster Act of Texas Government Code Chapter 418, I shall exercise any and all necessary powers set out thereunder and I hereby authorize the use of all available resources of state government and political subdivisions to assist in the City’s response to this disaster.
5. Pursuant to the authority granted under the laws of the State of Texas, the City may take all legal actions necessary to protect the health of persons in the City.
6. Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 122.005, the City may adopt rules to protect the health of persons in the City, and provide for the establishment of emergency hospitals, and other hospitals and abating nuisances before they become injurious to public health.
7. Pursuant to Section 418.108(b) of the Texas Government Code, the state of a local disaster shall continue for a period of not more than seven (7) days from the date of this Declaration and Order unless continued or renewed by the City Council of the City of San Saba, Texas.
8. In accordance with Texas Government Code §418.173, a person who knowingly or intentionally violates this declaration commits an offense, punishable by a fine up to $1,000.00 or confinement in jail for a term that does not exceed 180 days.
9. That this declaration hereby authorizes the use of all lawfully available enforcement tools.
10. That this declaration is hereby supplemented by Order No. 1 and may be supplemented by further orders as the Mayor or City Council determines are necessary.
11. That this declaration shall take effect immediately from and after its issuance.
12. Pursuant to Section 418.108(c) of the Texas Government Code, this Declaration and Order shall be given prompt and general publicity and shall be filed promptly with the City Secretary.
This Declaration and Order is adopted this the 31st day of March, 2020, at 3:15 p.m., effective immediately.
Filed with me, the City Secretary of the City of San Saba, this the 31st day of March, 2020, by Mayor Kenneth G. Jordan, whose signature I hereby attest under my hand and seal of the City of San Saba.