Summary

King County Executive Dow Constantine issued a Proclamation of Emergency after widespread flooding and ongoing challenges from the winter storms.

Story

WHEREAS, on December 26, 2021 the King County Office of Emergency Management activated the King County Emergency Operations Center for a significant civil emergency caused by severe winter storm conditions; and

WHEREAS, those severe winter storm conditions consisted of snow, high winds, and subfreezing temperatures, which created dangerous conditions and significantly impacted the residents of King County and King County government’s operations; and

WHEREAS, I issued a Proclamation of Emergency on December 28, 2021 to address those events; and

WHEREAS, since the significant weather events described in that Proclamation, beginning January 5, 2022 King County has experienced continued hazardous weather systems consisting of heavy rain, river flooding, coastal flooding, landslides, additional snow, and high winds; and

WHEREAS, this weather is creating hazardous road conditions, poses a risk to public property and facilities, threatens public safety, property destruction, and injury, and creates unsafe travel conditions; and

WHEREAS, the King County Office of Emergency Management has activated the King County Emergency Operations Center to meet the significant civil emergency caused by these severe weather conditions; and

WHEREAS, the National Weather Service has forecast this extreme weather causing flooding along multiple rivers and floodplains in King County, including along and across King County roadways; and

WHEREAS, these stormy conditions have cause multi-day closures of east-west highway routes accessing King County through the mountain passes due to snow, and a temporary closure of the main north-south highway route into King County and western Washington due to flooding; and

WHEREAS, these highway roads are the main channels for resources and supplies to reach King County, and their closure impacts King County operations, as well as public safety and wellbeing; and

WHEREAS, response to these conditions is contributing to staffing shortages and necessitating immediate contracting and purchasing decisions to safeguard lives, prevent harm, and minimize damage; and

WHEREAS, King County agencies must perform essential public services in response to these events, including providing emergency response and recovery services, clearing snow and debris, assessing hazardous conditions, coordinating response resources, and taking other applicable and prudent emergency protective measures; and

WHEREAS, as described in SECTION 2 of this Proclamation, the situation is sufficiently serious that it is necessary that I proclaim an emergency within King County and exercise the Executive’s emergency powers; and

WHEREAS, I have reviewed the situation, consulted with Executive branch agencies and personnel, and verified the emergency cited above and the necessity for me to take immediate, extraordinary action as outlined in this Proclamation.

NOW THEREFORE, I, DOW CONSTANTINE, AS KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE, DO PROCLAIM AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1: EMERGENCY POWERS

A. As described in SECTION 2, an emergency exists requiring and authorizing me to exercise the emergency powers vested in me as King County Executive by RCW chapter 38.52, and King County Code chapters 2.56 and 12.52, as described in this Proclamation; and

B. Effective upon my signing this Proclamation, I will exercise that authority through the use and direction of County personnel, services, and equipment, and additional acts necessary to the management of this emergency.

SECTION 2: PROCLAMATION OF EMERGENCY

A. Based on my review of the present circumstances, the report of the King County Office of Emergency Management, and my consultations with Executive branch agencies and personnel, I find and proclaim that an emergency exists, as defined in K.C.C. 12.52.010.A, due to severe weather conditions consisting of heavy rains, flooding, landslides, snow, and high winds, and that these conditions demand that I exercise the authority assumed in SECTION 1 and take the extraordinary measures stated in SECTION 3, for the immediate preservation of public health, safety, and order, and the prevention of damage to public property (and restoration of such property to a condition of usefulness, as such property may have been damaged), and to relieve loss, hardship, and suffering.

SECTION 3: ORDER

A. Pursuant to K.C.C. 12.52.030.C.2, I hereby order that the public advertising and competitive procurement requirements of state law and K.C.C. chapter 2.93, and all applicable Executive policies and procedures, and the requirements of K.C.C. chapter 12.19, are waived relating to County contracts for the following purchases or leases:

1. Tangible personal property;
2. Public works as defined by RCW 39.04.010; and
3. Services, including professional or technical services.

B. Pursuant to K.C.C. 12.52.030.C.1, I hereby order that King County Staff may authorize overtime for personnel in positions requiring overtime to adequately respond to the emergency.

C. I further the reserve the right to issue such further orders as authorized by K.C.C. chapter 12.52 as may be necessary to respond to the emergency proclaimed in SECTION 2.

SECTION 4: NOTICE

A. A copy of this Proclamation and any order(s) issued hereunder shall be delivered to the Clerk of the Council and each King County Councilmember by email before the execution of any contract or lease authorized under SECTION 3. A copy of this Proclamation and any order(s) issued hereunder shall also be filed with the Clerk of the Council by no later than 10:00 a.m. on the second business day after issuance. To the extent practicable, a copy of this Proclamation and all emergency orders issued hereunder shall be delivered to all news media within King County and made available to the general public.

SECTION 5: EXPIRATION AND TERMINATON

A. This Proclamation shall continue in force and effect until terminated by order of the Executive or action by the County Council by ordinance. However, the order in SECTION 3A shall expire twenty-one (21) calendar days after issuance, unless terminated sooner by order of the Executive or action by the County Council by motion, or extended by the County Council by motion.

DATED this 7th day of January, 2022.

DOW CONSTANTINE, Executive
King County, Washington

SIGNED COPY (PDF)

For more information, contact:

Sheri Badger, Emergency Management, 206-205-4031