03/19/20 City of Kenai Issues Disaster Emergency Declaration

DISASTER EMERGENCY DECLARATION FOR THE CITY OF KENAI

March 18, 2020

WHEREAS, the novel Coronavirus, known as COVID-19 can result in serious illness or death and has shown to be easily transmittable from person to person; and,

WHEREAS, reducing the high risk of serious illness from COVID-19 is especially critical to older adults and individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions; and,

WHEREAS, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 11, 2020; and,

WHEREAS, the first coronavirus patient in Alaska was diagnosed in Anchorage on March 12, 2020 and other positive diagnosis have since occurred; and,

WHEREAS, Governor Mike Dunleavy issued a Declaration of Public Health Disaster Emergency on  March 11, 2020 and the President of the United States issued a Proclamation Declaring a National Emergency on March 13, 2020; and,

WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020 Governor Mike Dunleavy issued a mandate that public schools close to students between March 16 and March 30, 2020 and all after school activities have been suspended; and,

WHEREAS, Governor Mike Dunleavy has further mandated the closure of certain public and private facilities; and,

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that employers and others implement policies such as remote work and cancellation of mass gatherings to increase the physical distance between individuals to prevent the spread of COVID-19; and,

WHEREAS, many public and private facilities, gatherings, and other events have been cancelled or postponed in order to prevent the rapid transmission of COVID-19; and,

City of Kenai Disaster Emergency Declaration
March 17, 2020

WHEREAS, these events have a significant impact on business, commerce, and the local economy now and potentially in the future, as there is no projected date for a potential vaccine or other treatment for COVID-19; and,

WHEREAS, the City expects that the continued impact of COVID-19 will be of a severity and magnitude that is beyond the authority and capacity of the City to provide effective response; and

NOW, THEREFORE:

I declare a Disaster Emergency pursuant to AS 26.23.140 to exist in the City of Kenai due to the current and expected imminent impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as such I   have activated the emergency operations plan of the City in order to address the ongoing response.

Further, the City requests that the State of Alaska provide disaster assistance to the City by making available resources as needed in the ongoing response and recovery from the current and potential impacts of this pandemic, to provide individual assistance for affected businesses and individuals, and to provide technical expertise and guidance, to help the City in its response and recovery from this event. The City additionally requests assistance from federal agencies where state capability is not adequate.

A copy of this declaration will be promptly filed with the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Dated this 18th day of March, 2020.