A State of Emergency has been declared by elected officials in an area county.
According to a news release, WHEREAS, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) have declared COVID-19 a “pandemic”, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Secretary has declared that COVID-19 a public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, Pettis County (“County”) has been working in collaboration with the CDC, HHS and local health and public safety agencies to monitor and plan for the containment and subsequent mitigation of COVID-19 through the formation of a Pettis County COVID-19 Leadership Group; and
WHEREAS, while it is anticipated that a high percentage of those affected by COVID-19 will experience mild influenza-like symptoms, COVID-19 is a disease capable of causing severe symptoms or loss of life, particularly to the high risk population with underlying health conditions, and
WHEREAS, it is critical to prepare for and to respond to suspected or confirmed cases in the County and to implement measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and
WHEREAS, this threat of imminent disaster and emergency has the potential to cause significant adverse impacts upon the population throughout the County, and
WHEREAS, this threat of imminent disaster and emergency has already caused local impacts and will likely prompt additional local measures, including affected municipal governments to declare local disaster emergencies because of COVID-19, and
WHEREAS, this threat of imminent disaster and emergency situation throughout the County is of such magnitude and severity as to render essential the County’s supplementation of emergency resources and mutual aid to the County and municipal governments of this County and to require the activation of all applicable state, county and municipal emergency response plans.
WHEREAS, following direction from Governor Michael L. Parson, it is urged to cancel or suspend public gatherings of 50 individuals or more with the exception of educational institutions, daycare facilities, business operations, and that those who fall in the high risk categories try to avoid public gatherings as much as possible.
NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to the provisions under the authority of the revised statutes of Missouri, Chapter 44.080 Civil Defense statutes, we do hereby proclaim the existence of a disaster emergency throughout the County.
This was passed by the Pettis County Commission- David Dick, Presiding Commissioner; Jim Marcum, Western Commissioner; and Israel Baeza, Eastern Commissioner- on March 17.