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| Updated: 12/26/2012 2:22 pm |
Published: 12/26/2012 2:00 pm |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Gov. Mike Beebe has issued a statewide disaster declaration after a Christmas Day winter storm dumped snow and ice throughout the state and knocked out power to more than 200,000 customers.
The governor issued the declaration Wednesday afternoon as tens of thousands of people remained without electricity.
The governor says the declaration helps the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management work as efficiently as possible with other state agencies. By declaring a disaster, Beebe suspended provisions of state laws regarding procedures for the State Office of Purchasing, the Arkansas Building Authority, the State Office of Personnel Management and other agencies and departments as they work with ADEM.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME -- GREETINGS:
WHEREAS: Severe winter weather that began December 25, 2012, caused great damage to private property and public facilities in various jurisdictions in Arkansas; and
WHEREAS: Adverse circumstances have been brought to bear upon the citizens and public properties within these jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS: These political subdivisions require supplemental assistance from the state to recover from these losses;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mike Beebe, Governor of the State of Arkansas acting under the authority vested in me by Ark. Code Ann. §§ 12-75-101, et seq., do hereby declare the state of Arkansas a disaster area.
FURTHERMORE, I hereby invoke emergency executive powers vested in me by Ark. Code Ann. §§ 12-75-101, et seq., as amended, and suspend the provisions of regulating statutes prescribing procedures for conduct of the State Office of Purchasing, the Arkansas Building Authority, the State Office of Personnel Management, and all other state departments and agencies to render maximum assistance to the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management relative to any potential impediment to the rapid and orderly rendering of assistance to political subdivisions.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas to be affixed this 26th day of December, in the Year of our Lord 2012.
