HomeMy Public PortalAboutResolution No. 523-20A 03-30-2020RESOLUTION NO. 523-20A
CONTINUATION OF DECLARATION OF LOCAL DISASTER
WHEREAS, in December 2019 a novel coronavirus, now designated COVID-19,
was detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, with symptoms including fever,
cough, and shortness of breath and with outcomes ranging from mild to severe illness
and in some cases, death; 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, contact 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 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-
19 a worldwide pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is closely monitoring
the growing number of cases that have spread into the United States and the identification
of "community spread" cases of COVID-19 in the United States signals that transmission
of the virus is occurring; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 spreads between people who are in close contact with one
another through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or
sneezes;and
WHEREAS, the continued worldwide spread of COVID-19 presents an imminent
threat of widespread illness, which requires emergency action; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, County Judge Glen Whitley issued a Declaration
of Disaster Due to Public Health Emergency for Tarrant County, Governor Greg Abbott
issued a State of Disaster for all Texas counties, and President Donald Trump declared
a State of National Emergency for the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, on March 24, 2020 County Judge Glen Whitely issued an Executive
Order for all Tarrant County residents to stay home in an effort to reduce the spread of
COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, the mayor is designated
as the emergency management director of the City of Richland Hills, and may exercise
the powers granted to the governor on an ap9ropriate local scale; and
WHEREAS, a declaration of local disaster and public health emergency includes
the ability to reduce the possibility of exposure to disease, control the risk, promote health,
compel persons to undergo additional health measures that prevent or control the spread
of disease, including isolation, surveillance, quarantine, or placement of persons under
public health observation, including the provision of temporary housing or emergency
shelters for persons misplaced or evacuated and request assistance from the governor
of state resources; and
WHEREAS, on March 17, 2020, the Mayor of the City of Richland Hills issued a
Declaration of Local Disaster, City of Richland Hills; on March 19, 2020, the Mayor issued
a First Amended Declaration of Local Disaster Due to Public Health Emergency, City of
Richland Hills; and on March 23, 2020 the Mayor issued a Second Amended Declaration
of Local Disaster Due to Public Health Emergency, City of Richland Hills ("Declaration of
the Local Disaster'') which activated and implemented the City's Emergency Management
Plan and authorized actions necessary to protect the citizens as allowed under section
418.108 of the Texas Government Code; and
WHEREAS, to remain consistent with the declaration of the Texas Department of
State Health Services and the executive order issued by Governor Greg Abbott as of
March 19, 2020 and by Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley as of March 24, 2020 and to
harmonize to the extent possible with these executive orders, on March 25, 2020 the
Mayor of the City of Richland Hills issued a Third Amended Declaration of Local Disaster
Due to Public Health Emergency, City of Richland Hills, amending, continuing and
restating the declaration to implement additional measures to ensure the protection of the
general public, and for the health and safety of the citizens of Richland Hills; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with section 418.108(b), the declaration by the Mayor
can only be in effect for a period of not more than seven days, unless the same is
continued with the consent of the City Council of the City of Richland Hills, Texas; and
WHEREAS, the current situation with COVID-19 leads the City Council to believe
that the mitigation efforts and emergency response to COVID-19 must continue for more
than seven days.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS:
I.
That the City Council hereby consents to the continuation of the Declaration of the
Local Disaster for the City of Richland Hills. The Declaration of Local Disaster shall
continue in its entirety until May 15, 2020, subject to further extension if deemed
necessary by the City Council.
II.
That the City's Emergency Management Plan shall continue to be implemented.
Any violation of rules, regulations
1
or directives adopted pursuant to the Emergenqy
Management Plan or the Declaration of Local Disaster shall be subject to the penalties
set forth in the Emergency Management Plan and Section 418.173, Texas Government
Code.
Attest:
Ill.
That this resolution shall take effect immediately from and after its passage.
ADOPTED THIS 30th day of March 2020.
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