Government

WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States, pursuant to the National Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1601, et seq., has declared that the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) constitutes a national emergency; and

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020 Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards issued Proclamation Number 25 JBE 2020 regarding the Public Health Emergency-COVID-19, declaring and imminent threat posed to Louisiana citizens by the virus, creating emergency conditions that threaten the lives and health of the citizens of the State of Louisiana, pursuant to La. R.S. 29:766; and

WHEREAS, the City of Ponchatoula in Tangipahoa Parish may be greatly affected or has been greatly affected by the virus “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes, Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19), and the disease may pose and imminent threat to the City of Ponchatoula and threaten the safety and security of the citizens of the City of Ponchatoula; and

WHEREAS, the City of Ponchatoula may activate any necessary emergency plans and activities in response to this event and that this may exceed the Parish’s capability to respond to this possibly life-threatening crisis, and as such the City of Ponchatoula takes this measure in order to participate in any response and recovery plan administered by the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and their power to act as administrator, as per La. R.S. 29:767, and pursuant to the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance Act as amended, La. R.S. 29:721, et seq.;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that beginning on March 11, 2020, and continuing until June 30, 2020, pursuant to the authority granted in La. R.S. 29:737, at State of Public Health Emergency is hereby declared for the City of Ponchatoula.