HOPKINS COUNTY DISASTER DECLARATION

FOR THREAT OF WILDFIRES

From: Judge Chris Brown

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, Hopkins County has not received significant rainfall for an extended period and weather forecasters offer little promise of a change in the dry conditions in the near future; and

WHEREAS, These dry conditions pose the threat of large, dangerous and fast-moving wildfires; and

WHEREAS, Such fires have the potential of endangering lives and damaging properly on a large scale; and

WHEREAS, The Texas Disaster Act of 1975 authorized declaration of a state of disaster "if the threat of disaster is imminent"; and

WHEREAS, The magnitude of the potential damage and the rapidity at which such a fire could escalate to major proportions constitute an imminent threat of disaster; and

WHEREAS, Such controls, once implemented have the potential of protecting lives and property by mitigating the threat of dangerous fires; and

BE IT THEREFORE PROCLAIMED, that I Chris Brown, County Judge of Hopkins County, do hereby declare a state of disaster based on the threat of large wildfires in Hopkins County, Texas; and

BE IT ALSO PROCLAIMED that this state of disaster will continue until rescinded in accordance with above statute and order, no in no instance will this declaration continue more than seven days without authorization by the Hopkins County Commissioners Court.

BE IT ALSO PROCLAIMED that this state of disaster is being declared solely for the purpose of implementing controls aimed at mitigating the hazard posed by wildfires during the current dry weather.

BE IT ALSO PROCLAIMED THAT the purpose of this order is the mitigation of the hazard posed by wildfires by issuing a moratorium on outdoor burning, which purpose is to be taken into account in any enforcement action based upon this order.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I affix my signature this  12th day of  July, 2011.

-Chris Brown

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