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Jeffrey E. Gorrin, Chairman,

PIKE TOWNSHIP,

BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

 PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL DISASTER EMERGENCY

              WHEREAS, a novel coronavirus (now known as “COVID-19”) emerged in Wuhan, China, began infecting humans in December 2019, and has since spread to eighty-nine (89) countries, including the United States; and

             WHEREAS, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) have declared COVID-19 a “public health emergency of international concern,” and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Secretary has declared that COVID-19 creates a public health emergency; and

             WHEREAS, Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, by authority of the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including Sections 201 and 301 of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601, et seq.) and consistent with Section 1135 of the Social Security Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1320b-5), declared that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a national emergency, beginning March 1, 2020; and

             WHEREAS, Thomas W. Wolf, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (“Commonwealth”), pursuant to the provisions of Subsection 730(c) of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Services Code, 35 Pa. C.S. § 7101, et seq., proclaimed the existence of a disaster emergency throughout the Commonwealth on March 6, 2020; and

             WHEREAS, the Commonwealth, in collaboration with the CDC, HHS and local health agencies to monitor and plan for the containment and subsequent mitigation of COVID-19, activated its Department Operations Center and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency’s headquarters to conduct public health and medical coordination for COVID-19 throughout the Commonwealth; and

 WHEREAS, on March 4, 2020 the Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency ordered the activation of its Commonwealth Response Coordination Center in support of the Department of Health’s Department Operations Center, to maintain situational awareness and coordinate the response to any potential COVID-19 impacts across the Commonwealth; and

 WHEREAS, as of March 20, 2020 there are two hundred sixty eight (268) confirmed and/or presumed positive cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth; 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 older populations and those individuals with pre-existing conditions; and

 WHEREAS, with two hundred sixty eight (268) presumed positive cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth as of March 20, 2020, the possible increased threat from COVID-19 constitutes a threat of imminent disaster to the health of the citizens of the Township; and

 WHEREAS, this threat of imminent disaster and emergency has the potential to cause significant adverse impacts upon the population throughout the Township; and

 WHEREAS, this threat of imminent disaster and emergency has already caused schools, including but not limited to Oley Valley School District, to close and will likely prompt additional local measures, including the declaration by other local municipal governments to declare local disaster emergencies because of COVID-19; and

 WHEREAS, it is critical to prepare for and to be ready to respond to cases of COVID-19 in Pike Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania (“Township”) by implementing measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and to permit the Township to be eligible for any and all federal, state and county disaster emergency funds that may become available; and

 WHEREAS, this threat of imminent disaster and emergency situation throughout the Township is of such magnitude and severity as to require the activation of the and all applicable Township emergency management and emergency response plans.

 NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Subsection 7501(b) of the Pennsylvania Emergency and the Pennsylvania Management Services Code, 35 Pa. C.S. § 7101, et seq., as amended, I do hereby authorize Jeffrey Gorrin, Chairman of the Township Board of Supervisors (“Chairman”), or his designee, for a period of seven (7) days from the date of this Declaration, which period of time may be extended by resolution of Township Board of Supervisors, to assume command and control of all Township emergency operations and authorize and direct that the Township utilize all available resources and personnel as is deemed necessary by the Chairman from time to time to cope with this emergency situation, for such length of time as may be necessary to response to this emergency situation, in order to activate the response and recovery aspects of applicable local emergency management and emergency response plans and to authorize the furnishing of aid and assistance thereunder.

 FURTHER, I hereby transfer to the Chairman, or his designee, such amounts of Township unused funds as may be approved by the Board of Supervisors from time to time during this emergency situation for Emergency Management Assistance expenses related to this emergency, as conditions require.  The aforementioned funds shall be used for expenses authorized by the Board of Supervisors and incurred related to this emergency.  I hereby direct that any funds transferred herein that remain unused after all costs related to this emergency have been satisfied shall be returned to the Township’s general fund.  This Proclamation shall serve as the written determination of the basis for such emergency. 

 FURTHER, I hereby suspend all or any provisions of any Township ordinance or resolution if strict compliance with the provisions thereof would in any way prevent, hinder or delay necessary action in coping with this emergency.  The Chairman may implement emergency assignments without regard to procedures required by other Township ordinances or resolutions, except mandatory constitutional requirements, pertaining to performance of public work, incurring of obligations, employment of temporary workers, rental of equipment, purchase of supplies and materials, and expenditures of Township public funds, as may be necessary to meet this emergency, all without regard to those time consuming  procedures and formalities normally prescribed by law, mandatory constitutional requirements excepted. 

 FURTHER, I hereby authorize the Chairman to use all available Township resources and personnel in whatever manner the Chairman reasonably deems necessary during this emergency to assist in addressing the consequences of this emergency for such length of time as may be necessary to respond to this emergency and as authorized by this Proclamation, as may be extended by the Board of Supervisors.

 FURTHER, I hereby direct that any and all applicable Township emergency management and emergency response plans be activated and that any and all actions be taken as may be necessary to implement such plans, including but not limited to implementing curfews and closing Township-owned properties and Township parks, all of which shall be coordinated and implemented through the Chairman.