12/23/2009 - SpecialDecember 23, 2009 975
Roanoke County Administration Center
5204 Bernard Drive
Roanoke, Virginia 24018
December 23, 2009
The Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia, met this day at the
Roanoke County Administration Center, this being a special meeting for the purpose of
ratifying a declaration by the County Administrator of a local emergency due to severe
weather in the form of a snow storm.
IN RE: CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Altizer called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. The roll call was
taken.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Michael W. Altizer, Vice Chairman Joseph P.
McNamara, Supervisors Joseph B. "Butch" Church,
Charlotte A. Moore
MEMBERS ABSENT: Supervisor Richard C. Flora
STAFF PRESENT: B. Clayton Goodman III, County Administrator; Paul M.
Mahoney, County Attorney; Daniel R. O'Donnell, Assistant
County Administrator; Becky R. Meador, Clerk to the Board
IN RE: PROCLAMATIONS, RESOLUTIONS, RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS
1. Confirmation of resolution declaring a local emergency due to
severe weather =snow storm ~ Clayton Goodman III, County
Administrator)
R-122309-1
976 December 23, 2009
Mr. Goodman advised that on Saturday, December 19, 2009, Chief Rick
Burch, Fire and Rescue, contacted him and requested the declaration of a local
emergency due to severe weather in the form of a snow storm. Mr. Goodman stated
that Chief Burch informed him that County personnel were interacting with citizens
stranded on Interstate 81 (I-81) and there was the potential for additional citizens to be
stranded in other areas. Mr. Goodman advised that he agreed with Chief Burch's
request to declare a local emergency since it was unknown when the snowfall would
stop.
Mr. Goodman stated that a resolution confirming the declaration of a local
emergency by the County Administrator, acting as the Director of Emergency Services,
must be adopted by the governing body within fourteen days of the declaration. This
Board action will give the County access to funds from the State or Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) if any funds were to become available. He commented
that the fire and rescue personnel housed approximately 70 people at the Fort Lewis
Fire and Rescue Station. These people were very pleased with the assistance provided
and the accommodations were well received. Staff was also making plans to relocate
people to a larger facility if the weather continued to worsen; however, that was not
necessary as most of the people were able to leave the Fort Lewis Station by mid-day
or late Saturday. The Emergency Operations Center was opened, but as the situation
improved it was closed late Saturday afternoon. Mr. Goodman requested that the
December 23, 2009 977
Board adopt the resolution confirming the County Administrator's declaration of a local
emergency.
Supervisor Church asked Mr. Goodman and Division Chief Joey Stump
to express his appreciation to personnel at the Fort Lewis Station, Masons Cove
Station and Catawba Station for their assistance, and to Richfield Facilities for
providing food. He felt that the people traveling on I-81 were very grateful for the
County's assistance. He stated that the fire and rescue and emergency coordination
personnel did a great job and it was very special when Roanoke County could serve
people inside and outside the Roanoke Valley.
Division Chief Stump expressed his appreciation for the Board holding a
special meeting to ratify the declaration of the local emergency. This declaration is the
first step to determine if funds would be available from the State or Federal
governments. He advised that the emergency was declared because they could not
determine how many people would need assistance or how long that assistance would
be necessary. He expressed special thanks to the emergency personnel who helped
dig out cars from the snow so that some people could continue traveling by alternate
routes. He advised that staff would like to provide a briefing on this event at a Board
meeting in January.
Supervisor Moore expressed appreciation to Division Chief Stump and
the fire and rescue personnel for going above and beyond their jobs by showing
compassion and caring for others.
978 December 23, 2009
Chief Stump thanked Supervisor Moore for her comments. He advised
that the response of the career and volunteers at the Fort Lewis Fire Station, as well as
other stations, was phenomenal and all provided necessary assistance.
Chairman Altizer requested that Division Chief Stump express the
appreciation of the Board to all of the fire and rescue personnel who participated in the
emergency situation. He commented that many of the people who needed assistance
will remember how well they were treated by County personnel. The Board is indebted
to each and everyone in the fire and rescue department for their efforts on behalf of
local citizens and citizens from other areas. He hoped that County citizens would be
provided the same assistance in other parts of the country.
Supervisor Church expressed appreciation to the Virginia State Police for
their assistance and stated that the State Police worked as a team with the County.
They coordinated efforts with Chief Woody Henderson, Fort Lewis Fire and Rescue,
and actually closed down one side of I-81 to bring stranded vehicles back the wrong
way.
Supervisor Altizer moved to adopt the resolution. The motion carried by
the following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Moore, Church, McNamara, Altizer
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Flora
December 23, 2009
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RESOLUTION 122309-1 CONFIRMING THE COUNTY
ADMINISTRATOR'S DECLARATION OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY DUE
TO SEVERE WEATHER -SNOW STORM
WHEREAS, Virginia Code Section 44-146.21 provides that "in the event the
governing body cannot convene due to [a] disaster or other exigent circumstances, the
[local] director [of emergency services] .may declare the existence of a local
emergency, subject to confirmation by the governing body at its next regularly
scheduled meeting or at a special meeting within fourteen days of the declaration,
whichever occurs first; and
WHEREAS, in conformity with the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency
Services and Disaster Law of 2000 (Virginia Code Section 44-146.13 et seq.), the
Board of Supervisors by adoption of Resolution No. 111798-2, adopted an Emergency
Operations Plan for Roanoke County, and designated the County Administrator as the
Director of Emergency Services; and
WHEREAS, by virtue of the authority vested in him by Section 44-146.21, the
County Administrator, as the County's Director of Emergency Services, issued a
Declaration of Local Emergency on December 19, 2009, in response to severe weather
in the form of a snow storm.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF ROANOKE COUNTY, VIRGINIA:
That pursuant to Virginia Code Section 44-146.21 Board of Supervisors hereby
ratifies and confirms the Declaration of Local Emergency issued by the County
Administrator, in his capacity as the County's Director of Emergency Services, on
December 19, 2009.
On motion of Supervisor Altizer to adopt the resolution, and carried by the
following recorded vote:
AYES: Supervisors Moore, Church, McNamara, Altizer
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Flora
IN RE: ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Altizer adjourned the meeting at 9:10 a.m.
Submitted by:
Becky .Meador
Clerk to the Board
Approved by:
y
Michael W. Altizer
Chairman
980 December 23, 2009
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