Wichita Mayor Carlos Mayans issued a Proclamation of Emergency today proclaiming a disaster emergency arising from the Hurricane Katrina emergency, and the September 1, 2005, Proclamation of the Governor of the State of Kansas, which activates the response and recovery aspects of the City, State and Federal disaster emergency plans and the initiation of aid and assistance for the disaster emergency.
The City of Wichita and Sedgwick County have been asked to receive the unexpected emergency evacuation of 1,800 persons to Wichita and Sedgwick County from New Orleans, Louisiana, and other coastal communities as a result of Hurricane Katrina, a federal disaster area, and to take such other aid and recovery actions as may be requested by the Governor or federal officials.
A disaster emergency by the City of Wichita is necessary to assure that needed emergency expenditures from City of Wichita funds and the use of City facilities, equipment, and personnel are available to respond to the Proclamation of the Governor and to ensure cooperation in emergency management activities with State and federal emergency requests, as is necessary and expedient for the public health, safety, and welfare of the City.
The Mayor of the City of Wichita has the authority to declare such a local emergency under State law and the City's Home Rule powers.
Under State law, the Mayor's Proclamation is effective for seven days from the date of signing. Accordingly, it is recommended that the City Council extend the Proclamation at the City Council meeting of September 13, 2005, to continue the response and recovery emergency management plans and continue aid and assistance as needed. An agenda item for this purpose will be added to the September 13th City Council Agenda.
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