Declaration of a State of Emergency for the Commonwealth of Virginia Due to the Threat of Significant Flooding and Wind Damage Caused by Tropical Stor
Executive Order 98
Declaration of a State of Emergency for the Commonwealth of Virginia Due to the Threat of Significant Flooding and Wind Damage Caused by Tropical Storm / Hurricane Ophelia
On September 12, 2005, I verbally declared a state of emergency to exist for the Commonwealth of Virginia based on current forecasts that indicate that Tropical Storm/Hurricane Ophelia could cause damaging high winds, flash flooding, and possible tornadoes throughout the state. The National Weather Service forecasts that Tropical Storm/Hurricane Ophelia will follow a north-northeast track over the Outer Banks of North Carolina and affect eastern and central Virginia during the next 72 hours resulting in the potential for significant rainfall causing river flooding and high wind damage in central and southeast Virginia.
The health and general welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth require that state action be taken to help prepare, and if needed, alleviate the conditions caused by this situation. The potential effects of Tropical Storm /Hurricane Ophelia could constitute a natural disaster wherein human life and public and private property are imperiled, as described in § 44-146.16 of the Code of Virginia.
Therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me by § 44-146.17 of the Code of Virginia, as Governor and as Director of Emergency Management, and by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article V, Section 7 of the Constitution of Virginia and by § 44-75.1 of the Code of Virginia, as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Commonwealth, and subject always to my continuing and ultimate authority and responsibility to act in such matters, I hereby confirm, ratify, and memorialize in writing my verbal orders issued September 12, 2005, wherein I proclaim that a state of emergency exists and direct that appropriate assistance be rendered by agencies of both state and local governments to prepare for potential impacts of the storm, to alleviate any conditions resulting from significant flooding, if any occurs, and to implement recovery and mitigation operations and activities, if required, so as to return impacted areas to pre-event conditions insofar as possible. Pursuant to § 44-75.1.A.3 and A.4 of the Code of Virginia, I also direct that the Virginia National Guard and the Virginia Defense Force be called forth to state duty to assist in providing any aid, as needed. This shall include Virginia National Guard assistance to the Virginia State Police to direct traffic, prevent looting, and perform such other law enforcement functions as the Superintendent of State Police, in consultation with the State Coordinator of Emergency Management, the Adjutant General, and the Secretary of Public Safety, may find necessary.
In order to marshal all public resources and appropriate preparedness, response and potential recovery measures to meet this potential threat and recover from its possible effects, and in accordance with my authority contained in § 44-146.17 of the Emergency Services and Disaster Laws, I hereby order the following protective and potential restoration measures:
A. The full implementation by agencies of the state and local governments of Volume 1 (Basic Plan), Volume 5 (Hurricane Response Plan) and Volume 2 (Disaster Recovery Plan) of the Virginia Emergency Operations Plan, as amended, along with other appropriate state agency plans.
B. Full activation of the Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) and Virginia Emergency Response Team (VERT). Furthermore, I am directing that the VEOC and VERT coordinate state operations in support of potential affected localities and the Commonwealth, to include issuing mission assignments to agencies designated in the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan (COVEOP) and others that may be identified by the State Coordinator of Emergency Management, in consultation with the Secretary of Public Safety, which are needed to provide for the preservation of life, protection of property, and implementation of possible recovery activities.
C. The authorization to assume control over the Commonwealth's state-operated telecommunications systems, as required by the State Coordinator of Emergency Management, in coordination with the Virginia Information Technology Agency, and with the consultation of the Secretary of Public Safety, making all systems assets available for use in providing adequate communications, intelligence and warning capabilities for the event, pursuant to § 44-146.18 of the Code of Virginia.
D. The evacuation of areas threatened or stricken by flooding or other effects of the storm. Following a declaration of a local emergency pursuant to § 44-146.21 of the Code of Virginia, if a local governing body determines that evacuation is deemed necessary for the preservation of life or other emergency mitigation, response or recovery, pursuant to § 44-146.17 (1) of the Code of Virginia, I direct the evacuation of all or part of the populace therein from such areas and upon such timetable as the local governing body, in coordination with the Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC), acting on behalf of the State Coordinator of Emergency Management, shall determine. Notwithstanding the foregoing, I reserve the right to direct and compel evacuation from the same and different areas and determine a different timetable both where local governing bodies have made such a determination and where local governing bodies have not made such a determination. Violations of any order to citizens to evacuate shall constitute a violation of this Executive Order and are punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
E. If the storm results in a natural disaster, the activation, implementation and coordination of appropriate mutual aid agreements and compacts, including the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), and the authorization of the State Coordinator of Emergency Management to enter into any other supplemental agreements, pursuant to §§ 44-146.17(5) and 44-146.28:1 of the Code of Virginia, to provide for the evacuation and reception of injured and other persons and the exchange of medical, fire, police, National Guard personnel and equipment, public utility, reconnaissance, welfare, transportation and communications personnel, and equipment and supplies. The State Coordinator of Emergency Management is hereby designated as Virginia's authorized representative within the meaning of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, § 44-146.28:1 of the Code of Virginia.
F. If the storm results in a natural disaster, the authorization of the Departments of State Police, Transportation and Motor Vehicles to grant temporary overweight, overwidth, registration, or license exemptions to all carriers transporting essential emergency relief supplies in and through any area of the Commonwealth in order to support any disaster response and recovery, regardless of their point of origin or destination.
The axle and gross weights shown below are the maximum allowed, unless otherwise posted.
Axle Size Max. Weight
Any One Axle
24,000 Pounds
Tandem Axles (more than 40 inches but not more
than 96 inches spacing between axle centers)
44,000 Pounds
Single Unit (2 Axles)
44,000 Pounds
Single Unit (3 Axles)
54,500 Pounds
Tractor-Semitrailer (4 Axles)
64,500 Pounds
Tractor-Semitrailer (5 or more Axles)
90,000 Pounds
Tractor-Twin Trailers (5 or more Axles)
90,000 Pounds
Other Combinations (5 or more Axles)
90,000 Pounds
Per Inch of Tire Width in Contact with Road Surface
850 Pounds
All overwidth loads, up to a maximum of 14 feet, must follow Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) hauling permit and safety guidelines.
In addition to described overweight/overwidth transportation privileges, if appropriate, carriers may also be exempt from registration with the Department of Motor Vehicles. This includes the vehicles enroute and returning to their home base. The above-cited agencies shall communicate this information to all staff responsible for permit issuance and truck legalization enforcement.
This authorization shall apply to hours worked by any carrier when transporting passengers, property, equipment, food, fuel, construction materials and other critical supplies to or from any portion of the Commonwealth for purpose of providing relief or assistance as a result of this potential disaster, pursuant to § 52-8.4 of the Code of Virginia.
The foregoing overweight/overwidth transportation privileges as well as the regulatory exemption provided by § 52-8.4.A of the Code of Virginia, and implemented in § 19 VAC 30-20-40.B of the "Motor Carrier Safety Regulations," shall remain in effect for 30 days from the onset of the potential disaster, or until emergency relief is no longer necessary, as determined by the Secretary of Public Safety in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, whichever is earlier.
G. The discontinuance of provisions authorized in paragraph F above may be implemented and disseminated by publication of administrative notice to all affected and interested parties by the authority I hereby delegate to the Secretary of Public Safety, after consultation with other affected Cabinet-level Secretaries.
H. If the storm results in a natural disaster, the authorization of appropriate oversight boards, commissions and agencies to ease building code restrictions, and to permit emergency demolition, hazardous waste disposal, debris removal, emergency landfill siting and operations and other activities necessary to address immediate health and safety needs without regard to time-consuming procedures or formalities and without regard to application or permit fees or royalties. If the storm results in a natural disaster, this state of emergency may constitute a major medical emergency under the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Health Governing Emergency Medical Services, pursuant to Article 3.01 (§ 32.1-111.1 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 32.1, of the Code of Virginia, Statewide Emergency Medical Services System and Services, and exemptions specified in the Rules and Regulations regarding patient transport and provider certification in disasters apply.
I. The authorization of a maximum of $100,000 for matching funds for the Individuals and Household Program, authorized by The Stafford Act (when presidentially authorized), to be paid from state funds.
J. The implementation by public agencies under my supervision and control of their emergency assignments as directed in the COVEOP without regard to normal procedures pertaining to performance of public work, entering into contracts, incurring of obligations, or other logistical and support measures of the Emergency Services and Disaster Laws, as provided in §44-146.28 (b) of the Code of Virginia. Section 44-146.24 of the Code of Virginia also applies to any disaster related activities of state agencies.
K. Designation of members and personnel of volunteer, auxiliary and reserve groups including search and rescue (SAR), Virginia Associations of Volunteer Rescue Squads (VAVRS), Civil Air Patrol (CAP), member organizations of the Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES), volunteer fire fighters, and others identified and tasked by the State Coordinator of Emergency Management for specific disaster preparedness or recovery related mission assignments as representatives of the Commonwealth engaged in emergency services activities within the meaning of the immunity provisions of § 44-146.23 (a) of the Code of Virginia, in the performance of their specific disaster preparedness or recovery related mission assignments.
The following conditions apply to the deployment of the Virginia National Guard and the Virginia Defense Force:
1. The Adjutant General of Virginia, after consultation with the State Coordinator of Emergency Management, shall make available on state active duty such units and members of the Virginia National Guard and Virginia Defense Force and such equipment as may be necessary or desirable to assist in preparations and in alleviating the human suffering and damage to property.
2. Pursuant to § 52-6 of the Code of Virginia, I authorize and direct the Superintendent of State Police to appoint any and all such Virginia Army and Air National Guard personnel called to state active duty as additional police officers, as deemed appropriate. These police officers shall have the same powers and perform the same duties as the regular State Police officers appointed by the Superintendent. However, they shall nevertheless remain members of the Virginia National Guard, subject to military command as members of the State Militia. Any bonds and/or insurance required by § 52-7 of the Code of Virginia shall be provided for them at the expense of the Commonwealth.
3. In all instances, members of the Virginia National Guard and Virginia Defense Force shall remain subject to military command as prescribed by § 44-78.1 of the Code of Virginia and not subject to the civilian authorities of county or municipal governments. This shall not be deemed to prohibit working in close cooperation with members of the Virginia Departments of State Police or Emergency Management or local law enforcement or emergency management authorities or receiving guidance from them in the performance of their duties.
4. Should service under this Executive Order result in the injury or death of any member of the Virginia National Guard, the following will be provided to the member and the member's dependents or survivors:
(a) Workers Compensation benefits provided to members of the National Guard by the Virginia Workers Compensation Act, subject to the requirements and limitations thereof; and, in addition,
(b) The same benefits, or their equivalent, for injury, disability and/or death, as would be provided by the federal government if the member were serving on federal active duty at the time of the injury or death. Any such federal-type benefits due to a member and his or her dependents or survivors during any calendar month shall be reduced by any payments due under the Virginia Workers Compensation Act during the same month. If and when the time period for payment of Workers Compensation benefits has elapsed, the member and his or her dependents or survivors shall thereafter receive full federal-type benefits for as long as they would have received such benefits if the member had been serving on federal active duty at the time of injury or death. Any federal-type benefits due shall be computed on the basis of military pay grade E-5 or the member's military grade at the time of injury or death, whichever produces the greater benefit amount. Pursuant to § 44-14 of the Code of Virginia, and subject to the availability of future appropriations which may be lawfully applied to this purpose, I now approve of future expenditures out of appropriations to the Department of Military Affairs for such federal-type benefits as being manifestly for the benefit of the military service.
5. The costs incurred by the Department of Military Affairs and the Virginia Defense Force in performing these missions shall be paid from state funds.
The following conditions apply to service by the Virginia Defense Force:
1. Compensation shall be at a daily rate that is equivalent of base pay only for a National Guard Unit Training Assembly, commensurate with the grade and years of service of the member, not to exceed 20 years of service;
2. Lodging and meals shall be provided by the Adjutant General or reimbursed at standard state per diem rates;
3. All privately owned equipment, including, but not limited to, vehicles, boats, and aircraft, will be reimbursed for expense of fuel. Damage or loss of said equipment will be reimbursed, minus reimbursement from personal insurance, if said equipment was authorized for use by the Adjutant General in accordance with § 44-54.12 of the Code of Virginia; and
4. In the event of death or injury, benefits shall be provided in accordance with the Virginia Workers Compensation Act, subject to the requirements and limitations thereof.
Upon my approval, the costs incurred by state agencies and other agents in performing mission assignments through the VEOC of the Commonwealth as defined herein and in § 44-146.28 of the Code of Virginia, other than costs defined in Item 5 of the paragraphs above pertaining to the Virginia National Guard and the Virginia Defense Force, in performing these missions shall be paid from state funds. In addition, up to $50,000 shall be made available for operation of the Emergency Operation Center.
This Executive Order shall be effective September 12, 2005, and shall remain in full force and effect until June 30, 2006, unless sooner amended or rescinded by further executive order. Termination of the Executive Order is not intended to terminate any Federal-type benefits granted or to be granted due to injury or death as a result of service under this Executive Order.
Given under my hand and under the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia, this 12th day of September 2005.
/S/ Mark R. Warner, Governor
Attest: /S/ Secretary of the Commonwealth
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Executive_Orders/html/EO_98.html