WHEREAS, on June 12, 2008, a series of severe storms moved across northwestern lower Michigan, spawning at least one tornado and to buildings, trees, electrical power lines, roads, culverts, a municipal sewer system, and public drains;
WHEREAS, the county of Mason suffered widespread and severe damage from the winds and heavy rains of this storm including damage to residences, as well as to numerous roads, culverts, a sewer system, and public drains;
WHEREAS, the excessive rainfall has washed out portions of major roads within and around the county of Mason, including shoulder to shoulder portions of US-31, thus rendering such roads impassible and impeding emergency service access;
WHEREAS, numerous other roads and streets within the county of Mason remain impassable due to the flooding damage and impede emergency service access;
WHEREAS, the county suffered significant damage to the county's public drains and the city of Ludington's sewer system which poses a significant threat to public health and safety;
WHEREAS, the county of Mason has declared a local state of emergency for the county and has activated the disaster response and recovery aspects of their emergency operations plan to the fullest extent possible to cope with the situation;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM, Governor of the State of Michigan, by virtue of the power and the authority vested in the Governor by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and Michigan law, including the Emergency Management Act, 1976 PA 390, MCL 30.401 to 30.421, order the following:
1. A State of Emergency is declared in Mason County.
2. The Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division of the Department of State Police shall coordinate and maximize all state efforts that may be activated to state service to assist local government and officials in Mason County, and may call upon all state departments to utilize available resources to assist in the emergency area consistent with the Michigan Emergency Management Plan.
3. The State of Emergency is terminated at such time as emergency conditions no longer exist and appropriate programs have been implemented to recover from the effects of the emergency conditions but in no case later than July 10, 2008.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of Michigan this 13th day of June in the year of our Lord, Two thousand and eight.
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JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM
GOVERNOR
BY THE GOVERNOR:
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SECRETARY OF STATE
