MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Alabama Governor Kay Ivey issued a State of Emergency for several North Alabama counties on Sunday ahead of a winter storm system that the State says could cause significant damage.
The State of Emergency went into effect at 5 p.m. on Sunday for the following counties:
- Bibb
- Blount
- Choctaw
- Colbert
- Cullman
- DeKalb
- Fayette
- Franklin
- Greene
- Hale
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Lamar
- Lauderdale
- Lawrence
- Limestone
- Madison
- Marnego
- Marion
- Marshall
- Morgan
- Perry
- Pickens
- Shelby
- Sumter
- Tuscaloosa
- Walker
- Winston
In the State of Emergency, Gov. Ivey authorized the activation of the Emergency Operations Plan. According to the State of Emergency, the Alabama Emergency Management Agency State Operations Center and Alabama Management Agency Divisions are placed on alert and activated.
During the State of Emergency, some of the COVID-19 orders have been altered:
"A. Any provision of the COVID-19 Orders is suspended to the extent that its application or enforcement would endanger any person affected by this storm event or impede the ability of individuals, governmental entities, organizations, or businesses responding to this storm event to preserve human life, to prevent or mitigate human suffering, or to protect or repair critical infrastructure as defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.
"B. Except as provided in this section, nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to modify, alter or amend any provision of the COVID-19 Orders, which shall remain in full force and effect according to their terms.
"C. All persons responding to this storm event are encouraged to remain vigilant against the spread of COVID-19 and to comply with the COVID-19 Orders to the greatest extent possible, even when excused from compliance under this section. Shelters should remain open and accessible to all individuals seeking refuge from this storm while implementing reasonable practices and procedures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among those seeking shelter."
The full State of Emergency can be read below:
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