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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 979 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 This page left blank intentionally.