GREENVILLE – The Dark County Board of Commissioners signed an emergency proclamation Tuesday afternoon to declare a state of emergency exists in Darke County following the tornado on March 14.
The proclamation reads:
Whereas, Darke County, Ohio has been or is immediately threatened by a natural hazard on March 14 Darke County was impacted by an EF2 Tornado that left significant portions of Darke County with property damage, downed power lines, road closures due to debris, endangering lives and property of the residents of Darke County.
Now, therefore, we, the Board of Commissioners of Darke County, declare that a state of emergency exists in Darke County, Ohio and that we hereby invoke and declare those portions of the Ohio Revised Code that are applicable to the conditions and have caused the issuance of this Emergency Proclamation, to be in full force and effect in Darke County for the exercise of all necessary emergency authority for protection of the lives and property of the people of Darke County and the restoration of local government with a minimum of interruption.
Reference is hereby made to all appropriate laws, statutes, ordinances and resolutions, and particularly to Section 5502 of the Ohio Revised Code.
All public offices and employees of Darke County are hereby directed to exercise the utmost diligence in the discharge of duties required of them for the duration of the emergency and in execution of emergency laws, regulations, and directives–state and local.
All citizens are called upon and directed to comply with necessary emergency measures, to cooperate with public officials and disaster service forces in executing emergency operation plans, and to obey and comply with the lawful directions of properly identified officers.”
Director of the Darke County Emergency Management Agency Mindy Saylor explained how this proclamation helps to get resources from the state government.
“We know we might need additional resources from the state and maybe other areas and agencies, so this basically allows us the ability and protects us to be able to access resources beyond our Darke County,” Saylor said. “This also protects us with any potential programs, reliefs that could come down and be available in the future.”
Commissioner Matt Aultman and Commissioner Marshall Combs were present and signed.
