Due to severe weather, City of Monroe Mayor Robert Burns has consented to the inclusion of the City of Monroe within the Emergency Area of a Union County Declaration of a State of Emergency related to January 9, 2024 severe storms including high winds, heavy rain and possibility of tornadic activity.
This declaration includes a restriction under North Carolina General Statute 166A-19.31 and Chapter 14 of the Union County Code, which gives the Sheriff's Office authority to close roads impacted by flooding and issue citations to motorists who disregard emergency barricades. The declaration also allows Union County's administrative team to increase funding allocated for emergency purposes.
Read the Declaration of State of Emergency and Consent to State of Emergency documents here
Emergency Management Director Andrew Ansley is directing the county's response efforts and has activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to monitor the impacts of the severe weather. Heavy rains and strong winds are expected to bring flash flooding, downed trees and possible power outages. The EOC serves as a command center and brings numerous partners across the county together to share information, make decisions, monitor developments, and coordinate response efforts.
"We have been working on preparation efforts ahead of the storm, and we're partnering with local and state partners to ensure we have proper response efforts in place during and after the severe weather," Ansley said. "We need county residents to stay home while the storm passes so that our first responders can quickly get to people and situations where they are needed."
Emergency Management, along with Bakers Fire Department, is prepared to assist Monroe Fire Department's swiftwater rescue team. The swiftwater rescue team is ready to respond to flooding emergencies throughout the state.
All relevant information regarding the storm is available on the County website, including road closures, county government closures and impacts to county services, emergency preparedness resources, flooding information, and more.
This notice was created in partnership with Union County.
DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, on January 9, 2024, severe storms, including high winds, heavy rain, and
the possibility of tornadic activity, moved into North and South Carolina; and
WHEREAS, meteorologists are predicting that the storm will have an imminent major
impact on weather conditions in Union County; and
WHEREAS, such weather conditions and impacts are projected to include, without
limitation, up to four inches of rain within twenty-four hours and wind gusts as high as 60 miles
per hour, which could result in flash or prolonged flooding in areas of Union County and danger
to life and property resulting from downed trees and power lines; and
WHEREAS, based on the foregoing, I have determined that there is an imminent threat
of, or existing conditions have caused or will cause, widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss
of life or property; and
WHEREAS, declaring a State of Emergency and imposing any restrictions and
prohibitions ordered herein is necessary to maintain an acceptable level of public order and
services, and to protect lives, safety, and property.
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me as the Chairman of the
Board of Commissioners of Union County, North Carolina under Article IA of Chapter 166A of
the North Carolina General Statutes and Chapter 14, "Emergency Management," of the Union
County Code:
Section 1. A State of Emergency is hereby declared within Union County, North
Carolina, as defined by N.C.G.S. § 166A-19.3 and Section 14-35 of the Union County Code, and
as more particularly described in Section 2 herein, based upon the weather conditions and
resulting damage that are posed by this severe weather event.
Section 2. The emergency area covered by this state of emergency shall be (hereinafter
the "Emergency Area"):
All areas within the jurisdiction of Union County, North Carolina, including any
municipality which has consented to such jurisdiction
Except as set forth in this Section 2, the restrictions and prohibitions imposed by this Declaration
are applicable within the Emergency Area. Notwithstanding the above, the Emergency Area
shall not include any area within the corporate limits of any municipality, or within area of
Union County over which a municipality has jurisdiction to enact general police-power
ordinances, unless the municipality's governing body or mayor consents or requests this
Declaration's application. The application of the prohibitions and restrictions imposed by this
Declaration to the corporate limits of any municipality or any area of Union County over which
the municipality has jurisdiction to enact general police-power ordinances shall be limited to
those prohibitions and restrictions consented to or requested by the municipality's governing
body or mayor.
Section 3. The following restrictions and prohibitions are imposed:
Restricted Access: Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 166A-19.3 l(b) and Section 14-41 of the Union County
Code, the sheriff shall have the authority to restrict or deny access, within the emergency area, to
any street, road, highway, bridge, public vehicular area or other area ordinarily used for vehicular
travel, except to the movement of emergency responders and other persons necessary for recovery
from the emergency, if such restriction or denial of access is reasonably necessary to promote
efforts being made to overcome the emergency or to prevent further aggravation of the emergency.
The sheriff shall notify the Department of Transportation of any closure of a road or public
vehicular area as soon as practicable.
Section 4. I hereby order all Union County, North Carolina employees and all other
emergency management personnel subject to my control to cooperate in the enforcement and
implementation of the provisions of this Declaration, all applicable local ordinances, state and
federal laws, and the Union County Emergency Operations Plan.
Section 5. I hereby order the Union County Manager to take all lawful actions necessary
to manage the Union County organization during this state of emergency, which includes,
without limitation, procuring goods and services necessary to manage this emergency and
adjustment of hours, access, and operations of all County-owned facilities and government
operations as he deems reasonably necessary.
Section 6. I hereby order this Declaration: (a) to be posted in the Union County
Courthouse, (b) to be distributed to the mass communications media which serves the affected
area, as well as calculated to bring its contents to the attention of the general public; (c) to be
posted conspicuously on the County's website; ( d) to be submitted to the Department of Public
Safety WebEOC critical incident management system; (e) to be filed with Clerk to the Union
County Board of Commissioners, who shall, upon request, furnish certified copies of this
Declaration; and (f) to be distributed to others as necessary to ensure proper implementation of
this Declaration.
Section 7. This Declaration shall take effect on January 9, 2024, at 1 :50 PM, and shall
remain in effect until modified or terminated.
DECLARED this the 9th day of January, 2024, at 1 :50 PM
J.R. Rowell
Chairman, Union County Board of Commissioners
CITY OF MONROE CONSENT TO STATE OF EMERGENCY
I, Robert A. Burns, as the Mayor of the City of Monroe, North Carolina hereby consent to the inclusion of the City of Monroe within the Emergency Aera of a Union County Declaration of a State of Emergency related to January 9, 2024 severe storms including high winds, heavy rain and possibility of tornadic activity, including any restrictions and prohibitions imposed therein.
This the 9th day of January, 2024.
Robert A. Burns
Mayor, City of Monroe