Orange County NC Website
3 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> PROCLAMATION <br /> September 2021 - "Orange County Preparedness Month" <br /> WHEREAS, it is critical for every community, business, family, and individual in Orange County <br /> to be prepared for natural and man-made disasters, including tornadoes, flooding, and hurricanes, <br /> as well as disease outbreaks like COVID-19; and <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County has seen a high activity of severe weather — in 2020, the National <br /> Weather Service issued 13 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, 4 Flash Flood Warnings, 4 Flood <br /> Warning, and 3 Tornado Warnings; and <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County experienced an estimated $1.2 million in estimated damages from <br /> severe weather in 2020; and <br /> WHEREAS, in 2018, Hurricane Florence brought significant rainfall in September, and was <br /> followed by Tropical Storm Michael in October, with both storms causing widespread power <br /> outages and flooding, and Florence resulting in more than $26 million in damages while Michael <br /> exceeded $500,000; and <br /> WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the Chair to the Board of County Commissioners declared a <br /> State of Emergency to coordinate the County's response and protective actions to address the <br /> COVID-19 public health emergency and provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the Orange <br /> County community; and <br /> WHEREAS, community members can take a few simple steps — creating an emergency supply <br /> kit, making a family disaster plan, and staying informed — to help make preparedness a personal <br /> responsibility and improved health a priority in our community; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Orange County Emergency Services Emergency Management Division, along <br /> with emergency managers throughout the nation, has collaborated to recognize September as <br /> National Preparedness Month, and encourage Orange County community members to stay <br /> informed and prepared; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, do hereby declare <br /> September 2021 as "Orange County Preparedness Month." <br /> This the 14' Day of September, 2021. <br /> Renee Price, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />