WIC H ITA

COUTY
PROCLAMATIO
Marc h _ , 2020

D EC LA RAT ION OF DI SASTE R

IN WI C HI TA COU TY

WHE REAS , the nove l coronavirus (COY ID- 19) has been recognized globa lly as a contagious
resp irato ry vi ru s and;

W HEREAS , as of 13 March 2020, there are more than 30 confirmed cases of COYID-19
located in multiple Texas counties; and

W H EREAS, there are more than 50 Texans w ith pending tests for COYID-19 in Texas;
and

W H EREAS, some schools, universities and other governmental entities are beginning to
alter their schedu les, and some venues are beginn ing to temporarily close, as
precautionary responses to the increasing presence of COY I 0-19 in Texas: and

W HE REAS, cost incurred to prepare for and respond to COYID-19 are beginning to
mount at the County and loca l leve ls; and

WH E R EAS , the Cou nty of Wich ita has already taken numerous steps to prepare for
COYID-19, such as increas ing laboratory testing capac ity , coordinating preparedness
efforts across County and local agencies, and wo rking with local partners to promote
appropriate mitigation efforts: and

W HEREAS , a dec larati on of such di saster authori zes the impos itio n of contro ls on
activities, poss ible evacuations, limitati on on ingress and egress to disaster areas in the
incorporated and unincorporated areas of Wichita County which may be necessa ry in the
coming days; and

W HEREAS , it is critica l to take additi ona l steps to prepa re fo r, respond to and miti gate the
spread of COY ID- 19 to protect the hea lth and we lfare of W ichita Co un ty res idents; and

W HEREAS, decla ring a state of di saster w ill fac ilitate and ex pedi te the use and de pl oyment
of reso urces to enhance preparedness and respo nse .

WHEREAS, such controls, once implemented, have the pote ntia l of protecting Iives and
property by mitigating the threat of the Coro na vi ru s (COY ! 0 - 19), a globa ll y contag ious
respirato ry virus; and

WHEREAS , the Wichita County Judge has determined that W ichita Cou nty has been
threatened by a globa lly contagious respiratory virus and has determined on thi s 13 1" day of
March, 2020, that extreme measu res m ust be taken to protect citizens and property.
BE IT THEREFORE PROCLA IMED that I, Woodrow W. Gossom, Jr., County Judge,
of Wic h ita Co unty, Texas, do hereby declare a local state of disaster based on the
globally contagious respiratory viru s in Wichita County, Texas.

BE IT THEREFO R E PROCLA IMED BY THE COU TY JUDGE:

I. That a local state of disaster is hereby proclaimed for Wichita County pursuant to
Section 418.108(a) of the Texas Government Code.
2. Pursuant to Section 418.108(b) of the Texas Government Code, this Declaration of a
local state of disaster shall continue for so long as the conditions exist.
3. Pursuant to Section 418 . 108(c) of the Texas Government Code, this Declaration ofa
local state of disaster shall be given prompt and general publicity and shall be filed
promptly with the County Clerk of Wichita County.
4. Pursuant to Section 418 . I08(d) of the Texas Government Code, this Declaration of a
local state of disaster activates the Wichita County Emergency Management Plan .

BE IT ALSO PROCLA IME D that the state of disaster will co nti nu e until rescinded in accordance
with the above cited statute, but in no instance will this declarat ion continue for more than seve n
days without being authorized by the Wichita County Commissioners Court.

Th is Proclamation sha ll take effect immediately from and after its issuance.

This dec laration shall be pro mptly pub li cized and filed with the Wichi ta Co unty C lerk.

IN WITN ES S WHEREOF, I affix my s ignature this /6 ~ ay of March, 2020.

~ / p t , ..k,_~,.
WOODROW W . GfusOM, ~.
oi
WICHITA COUNTY JUDG E

Attested to and filed th is I~ 'r1, day of March, 2020.