States of Emergency Declared in 4 States

EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATIC EVENTS
STATES OF EMERGENCY
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Governors in 4 states declare States of Emergency ahead of winter storm 

Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi declare States of Emergency ahead of yet another severe round of winter storm. More states are expected to follow suit.

Alabama: Gov. Bentley has declared a state of emergency ahead of yet another round of winter storm forecast to hit the state. The state of emergency is effective 6:00 a.m. Tuesday.

“Alabama recently experienced a winter weather situation two weeks ago, and we are again bracing for more winter weather to impact the state over the coming days,” said Bentley.

Local Area Emergency for Marshall County

All roads in Marshall County are covered with 2 inches or more of
accumulation of snow and sleet. Road reports from throughout the County indicate that all roads are becoming extremely dangerous to impassible.

Louisiana: Gov. Jindal on Monday declared his fourth State of Emergency for severe weather during the past five weeks.

The governor has ordered state offices closed in 19 parishes, in the central and northern parts of the state. The parishes are Avoyelles, Bienville, Caddo, Caldwell, Claiborne, East Carroll, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Rapides, Richland, Union, Vernon, Webster, and West Carroll.

Georgia: Gov. Deal has declared a state of emergency for Georgia just hours ahead of a winter storm.

Deal was severely criticized for the response to the January 28 storm that paralyzed the Atlanta metro area after just two inches of snow, leaving drivers stranded in frigid conditions overnight, and forcing students and some parents to sleep in school buses.

Snow is forecast for the region from Tuesday night to Thursday morning, said NWS.

Mississippi: Gov. Bryant declared a state of emergency Monday in anticipation of a “potentially Dangerous” winter storm, which is forecast to cause ice and snow accumulations in northern and central parts of the state.

“I have declared a State of Emergency to aid emergency officials in preparing for the onset of this potentially dangerous weather,” said  Bryant. “Mississippi has seen its share of winter weather lately, but now is not the time to become weather weary. Residents should not overreact but should make plans now to ensure they are prepared for a variety of conditions, including prolonged freezing temperatures, icy roadways and accumulations of ice and winter precipitation.”

U.S. Weather Forecast

Significant Winter Storm Impacting the South and Southeast with Heavy Snow, Dangerous Ice: NWS

Cold air behind a stalled frontal boundary will combine with Gulf moisture resulting in snow, sleet and freezing rain across parts of the South and Southeast through midweek. In addition to heavy snow, there is a potential for dangerous ice accumulations from the lower Mississippi Valley into the Carolinas.

U.S. Weather Hazards Map (Hazmap)  for Tuesday, February 11, 2014. Issued at 12:31UTC. Source: NWS. UPDATE

Energy Emergency

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended on Wednesday the regional States of Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions & Permits for transporting propane throughout the United States.

A total of at least 38 states and District of Columbia are currently impacted by shortages of propane and other heating fuels.

States covered by the emergency declarations include:

• Western Service Center: North Dakota and South Dakota
• Southern Service Center: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee
• Eastern Service Center: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia
• Midwestern Service Center: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin

Colorado Governor Issued Emergency Declaration to Authorize Temporary Exception to Hours of Service Regulations for CMVs Used for Propane Transport on February 7, 2014.

Texas Governor Renews Proclamation Declaring Liquefied Petroleum Gas Emergency [Feb. 4, 2014.]

Related Links

• States of Emergency Declared in New York, Pennsylvania February 6, 2014
• Disaster Emergency Declared in Multiple States February 5, 2014
• State of Disaster Emergency Declared in Kansas February 5, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in New Jersey  February 4, 2014

Energy Emergency Links

• Never Mind the Salt, Propane Shortage Biting Hard February 6, 2014
• Deadly Winter Storm Prompts States of Emergency in Georgia, Carolinas  January 29, 2014
• States of Emergency Declared in Alabama, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi …  January 28, 2014

• Wisconsin Declares State of Emergency over Extreme Cold, Fuel Shortage January 26, 2014
• Louisiana Declares 2nd State of Emergency due to Dangerous Cold January 25, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared for Louisiana January 24, 2014

• Energy Emergency Declared for Alabama January 24, 2014
• Tennessee Declares Statewide Energy Emergency January 22, 2014
• Ohio Declares Statewide Energy Emergency January 20, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in Oklahoma due to Propane Shortage January 8, 2014

Energy Emergency Declared for Alabama

EXTREME CLIMATIC EVENTS
ENERGY EMERGENCY
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“polar vortex has increased the number of deaths throughout the nation” —Alabama Gov

Gov. Bentley has declared a State of Emergency for all Alabama counties due to the threat of a propane shortage amid extreme winter weather in the southern U.S.

State of Emergency

Part of Bentley’s State of Emergency Declaration read:

The current prediction of the national Weather Service demonstrate the potential for the entire State of Alabama to be severely affected by extreme and prolonged subfreezing temperatures, with the chance of ice and snow beginning on January 23, 2014. This emergency declaration is in response to the extreme cold experienced by throughout Alabama from the polar vortex and the possible continuing effects of the arctic cold on people and property, including an immediate threat to human life or public welfare in the State of Alabama  …  an emergency exemption is issued as a result of extreme arctic cold weather conditions causing shortages and interruptions in the availability and/or delivery of propane and other home heating fuels throughout the State of Alabama …  the polar vortex has increased the number of deaths throughout the nation, and may result in abnormally high demand and potential supply shortages for conventional heating fuels and threaten the safety and well-being of citizens, agribusiness and business property located throughout the State of Alabama

“With life threatening cold temperatures expected once again, it is important for Alabamians to have the necessary heating resources available for survival,” said Bentley.

“This State of Emergency will help Alabamians have an uninterrupted supply of propane gas and other home heating fuels during this period of winter weather.”

The State of Emergency will wave the federal transportation motor carrier laws, allowing flexibility in the delivery of the vital heating fuel to homes, schools and businesses.

The frigid condition threaten Alabama’s $15 billion poultry industry. The state is the third largest in the country for broiler and 14th in egg production, according to the Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Current – Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions & Permits

In addition to the State of Alabama, States of Emergencies and/or executive orders, wavers and exemptions have been issued  for 33 other states and District of Columbia, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The following Emergencies are currently in effect:

Regional Emergency Declaration Issued by Southern Service Center

Affected States: Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Oklahoma.  (Effective Date:  1/21/2014 – In effect for the duration of the emergency or until 2/11/2014, whichever is less).

Regional Emergency Declaration Issued by Eastern Service Center 

Affected States: Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia.  (Effective from 1/19/2014 In effect for the duration of the emergency or until 2/11/2014, whichever is less).

Regional Emergency Declaration Issued by Midwestern Service Center 

Affected States: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin.   (Effective from 1/19/2014 In effect for the duration of the emergency or until 2/11/2014, whichever is less).

Related Links

• Tennessee Declares Statewide Energy Emergency January 22, 2014
• Ohio Declares Statewide Energy Emergency January 20, 2014
• State of Emergency Declared in Oklahoma due to Propane Shortage January 8, 2014