In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Leitchfield Mayor Rick Embry declared a state of emergency Wednesday morning. The move comes on the heels of Grayson County Judge-Executive declaring a state of emergency on Tuesday.
The emergency declaration reads as follows:
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020 President Donald J. Trump declared a national state of emergency in response to the coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic; and
WHEREAS, on March 6, 2020 Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency in Kentucky in response to the first documented case of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19, a respiratory disease that can result in serious illness or death and can easily spread from person to person; and
WHEREAS, the emergency response of the City of Leitchfield must be deployed rapidly to protect the health, safety, and welfare of citizens; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Embry has determined that the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, presents a severe and complex threat to the public health, safety, and welfare of citizens that extraordinary emergency measures are warranted pursuant to KRS 39A.100 (2) and KRS 39B.070; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for Mayor Embry to coordinate an emergency effort with national, state, county, and other local agencies for maximum effective response.
NOW and therefore, I, Richard Embry, Mayor of the City of Leitchfield, by virtue of the authority vested in me by KRS Chapter 39A and 39B of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, do hereby declare that a state of emergency exists in the City of Leitchfield, and that I shall be exercising the authority granted to me through Executive Orders, and through utilization of city personnel, services, equipment, and any necessary acts to manage this emergency.
Subject to any orders of Governor Andy Beshear, I hereby order and direct any and all departments of the City of Leitchfield to coordinate and cooperate with the Grayson County Health Department, Kentucky Department for Public Health, any federal agencies to respond to the threat presented by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 by exercising the powers articulated in KRS Chapter 39A and 39B and to provide information to individuals, businesses, organizations, and other entities to best prepare and respond to the COVID-19 State of Emergency Declaration.
This State of Emergency Declaration shall remain in effect until terminated by the issuance of another Executive Order when I determine that a state of emergency no longer exists and the exercise of extraordinary measures are no longer required for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com