Today, Governor John Bel Edwards amended his emergency proclamation to include the entire State of Louisiana.
The complete text of the declaration is below:
STATE OF EMERGENCY – SEVERE WEATHER
Amends and Supercedes 30 JBE 2016
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, La. R.S. 29:721 et seq., confers upon the Governor of the State of Louisiana emergency powers to deal with emergencies and disasters, including those caused by fire, flood, earthquake or other natural or manmade causes, in order to ensure that preparations of this State will be adequate to deal with such emergencies or disasters and to preserve the lives and property of the people of the State of Louisiana;
WHEREAS, when the Governor determines that a disaster or emergency has occurred, or the threat thereof is imminent, La. R.S. 29:724(B)(1) empowers the Governor to declare a state of emergency by executive order or proclamation, or both;
WHEREAS, the National Weather Service has issued flash flood watches in several parishes across Louisiana;
WHEREAS, a strong upper level storm system has caused thunderstorms across most of the State, which is expected to continue through the week and bring heavy rain, flash flooding and damaging winds to areas which are already experienced flooding; and
WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 30 JBE 2016 was issued on March 9, 2016, declaring a state of emergency in the parishes of Acadia, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Desoto, East Carroll, Grant, Lincoln, Morehouse, Ouachita, Red River, Richland, Union, Webster, and West Carroll as a result of the severe weather caused by this event;
WHEREAS, the parishes of Ascension, Assumption, Beauregard, Caldwell, East Feliciana, Franklin, Jackson, Lasalle, Madison, Natchitoches, Sabine, Tensas, Vernon, and Winn have also declared, or are in the process of declaring, states of emergency in order to assist residents in areas damaged by the severe weather;
WHEREAS, additional parishes are anticipated to declare states of emergency to respond to the event; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend Proclamation No. 30 JBE 2016 to include additional areas of the State impacted by the event.
NOW THEREFORE, I, JOHN BEL EDWARDS, Governor of the State of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:
SECTION 1: Pursuant to the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, La. R.S. 29:721 et seq., a state of emergency is hereby declared to exist statewide as a result of the severe weather caused by this event, the effects of which continue to threaten the lives and property of the citizens of the State.
SECTION 2: The Director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is hereby authorized to undertake any activity authorized by law which he deems appropriate in response to this declaration.
SECTION 3: All departments, commissions, boards, agencies and officers of the State, or any political subdivision thereof, are authorized and directed to cooperate in actions the State may take in response to the effects of this severe weather event.
SECTION 4: This order is effective upon signature and shall remain in effect from Thursday, March 10, 2016 until Friday, April 8, 2016 unless terminated sooner.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the city of Baton Rouge, on this 10th day of March, 2016.
s/John Bel Edwards