Mayor Freddie O'Connell Executive Order Number 002

The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County

Freddie O'Connell, Mayor

Executive Order 2

Subject: Declaration of a State of Emergency

Whereas, on December 9, 2023, a tornado caused death, injury, and widespread property damage in Davidson County; and

Whereas, safeguarding the lives of its citizens is a fundamental responsibility of the Metropolitan Government; and

Whereas, Tenn. Code Ann. § 38-9-102, Tenn. Code Ann. § 58-8-104, and Metropolitan Code § 2.08.060 authorize the Mayor of the Metropolitan Government to proclaim in writing when there exists a state of emergency within the area of Nashville and Davidson County; and

Whereas, “emergency” means any natural disaster, including a tornado, within the area of the Metropolitan Government resulting in the death or injury of persons, or the destruction of property to such an extent that extraordinary measures must be taken to protect the public health, safety and welfare; and

Whereas, the tornado that struck significant parts of the area of Nashville and Davidson County on December 9, 2023, is an emergency;

Now therefore, I, Freddie O’Connell, Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me, do hereby proclaim, direct, and order the following:

1. A State of Emergency is proclaimed within the area of Nashville and Davidson County.
2. The duration of this state of emergency will continue until rescinded but shall be limited to seven (7) days from this date unless it is necessary to extend it by Executive Order.
3. As authorized by Tenn. Code Ann. § 58-2-110(3)(A), the Metropolitan Government will:
   1. As necessary, appropriate and expend funds; make contracts; obtain and distribute equipment, materials, and supplies for emergency management purposes; provide for the health and safety of persons and property, including emergency assistance to the victims of any emergency; and direct and coordinate the development of emergency management plans and programs in accordance with the policies and plans set by the federal and state emergency management agencies;
   2. As necessary, appoint, employ, remove, or provide, with or without compensation, coordinators, rescue teams, fire and police personnel, and other emergency management workers;
   3. In addition to the primary emergency operating center, establish, as necessary, one or more secondary emergency operating centers to provide continuity of government and direction and control of emergency operations;
   4. As necessary, assign and make available for duty the offices and agencies of the Metropolitan Government, including the employees, property, or equipment relating to health, medical and related services, police, transportation, and similar items or services for emergency operation purposes, as the primary emergency management forces of the Metropolitan Government for employment within or outside the area of the Metropolitan Government;
   5. Request state assistance or, as needed, invoke emergency-related mutual-aid assistance in the event of an emergency affecting another political subdivision.
4. The Metropolitan Government, to the extent necessary to protect the health of citizens related to this emergency, invokes its authority under state law, Tenn. Code Ann. § 58-2-110(3), to waive the procedures and formalities otherwise required of the political subdivision by law pertaining to:
   1. Performance of public services and taking whatever prudent action is necessary to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the community;
   2. Entering into contracts;
   3. Incurring of obligations;
   4. Employment of temporary workers;
   5. Utilization of volunteer workers;
   6. Rental of equipment;
   7. Acquisition and distribution, with or without compensation, of supplies, materials, and facilities;
   8. Appropriation and expenditure of public funds; and
   9. Consider certain commercial vehicles engaged in the distribution of electric power, the supply of fuel, or telecommunications services to residences and businesses to be participating in an emergency relief effort for the purpose of the federal hours-of-service regulations promulgated by the federal motor carrier safety administration.
5. Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 58-8-105, the director or the director’s designee of the following departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Metropolitan Government is authorized to request assistance as the “requesting party” as defined in Tenn. Code Ann. § 58-8-102(12):
   1. Metropolitan Department of Health;
   2. Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management;
   3. Metropolitan Hospital Authority;
   4. Metropolitan Fire Department and its Emergency Medical Services Bureau;
   5. Emergency Communications District Board;
   6. Metropolitan Board of Public Education;
   7. Metropolitan Police Department;
   8. Department of Water and Sewerage Services;
   9. Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure;
   10. Nashville Electric Service;
   11. Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority;
   12. Metropolitan Transit Authority; and
   13. Department of General Services.
6. The Director of Finance is directed to monitor expenditure of funds by the Metropolitan Government related to the State of Emergency, prepare requests as appropriate for financial assistance and reimbursement of such expenditures by federal and state governments, and conduct a review of such expenditures following conclusion of the State of Emergency.

Ordered, Effective and Issued: December 9, 2023

Freddie O’Connell
Metropolitan County Mayor