The City’s Emergency Management Coordinator recommends City Council approve an ordinance to authorize the further extension of the local state of disaster proclamation that Mayor Turner issued on February 14, 2021, in response to the imminent threat to the people and communities of Houston resulting from the severe winter weather arising from Winter Storm Uri that resulted in prolonged freezing temperatures, snow, and freezing rain.
Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code establishes a coordinated system for local disaster responses that ties into State and federal disaster programs. To effectuate an immediate response effort, the presiding officers of local political subdivisions are authorized to declare a local disaster by proclamation. However, Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code requires action by the governing body for the declaration of a local state of disaster to extend more than seven days. In compliance with Chapter 418, City Council passed Ordinance No. 2021-130, which extended the local state of disaster proclamation for Winter Storm Uri until March 21, 2021. The conditions necessitating the local state of disaster continue to exist and the week of March 15th is a City Council Break Week. To ensure the local state of disaster does not lapse during the Council Break Week, City’s Emergency Management Coordinator recommends City Council approve the proposed ordinance which extends the declaration until Tuesday, April 20, 2021, and empowers the City to continue to take actions and emergency measures in support of the City’s and Houstonians’ response to and recovery from Winter Storm Uri.
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Arturo G. Michel, City Attorney