Mayor John Cooper Executive Order Number 012

THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY

John Cooper, Mayor

Subject: Declaration of a State of Civil Emergency and Curfew Related to Explosion on 2nd Avenue

Whereas, at approximately 6:32 a.m. CST, an explosion occurred on 2nd Avenue near Commerce Street in downtown Nashville; and

Whereas, the explosion injured multiple persons and caused widespread and serious damage to property, including structural damage to buildings and infrastructure; and

Whereas, federal, state and local law enforcement are conducting an ongoing criminal investigation into the explosion;

Whereas, first responders are continuing to canvass the area looking for injured parties and assessing the structural integrity and safety of affected buildings;

Whereas, safeguarding the lives of its citizens and protecting their property 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 civil emergency within the area of the Metropolitan Government; and

Whereas, “civil emergency” is defined in Tenn. Code Ann. § 38-9-101(2)(A) and Metro Code § 2.08.050 to include an explosion 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 also includes the destruction of property or the death or injury of persons brought about by the deliberate acts of one or more persons when such acts are a threat to the peace of the general public or any segment thereof; and

Whereas, Tenn. Code Ann. § 38-9-103 and Metropolitan Code § 2.08.070 authorize the Mayor, after proclamation of a civil emergency, to order a general curfew applicable to such geographic areas of the metropolitan government as deemed necessary in the interest of the public safety and welfare; and

Whereas, in order to facilitate the ongoing investigation of the explosion and to protect the public from further injury, it is necessary to limit access to the immediate area surrounding the explosion to law enforcement and other first responders;

Now therefore, I, John Cooper, Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me, do herby proclaim, direct, and order the following:

1. A State of Civil Emergency is proclaimed within the area of the Metropolitan Government that lies within the area bounded by James Robertson Parkway, 4th Avenue North, Broadway, and the Cumberland River (hereinafter the “Explosion Impact Area”).
2. A curfew shall be in effect for the Explosion Impact Area from 4:30 p.m. CST on December 25, 2020, to 4:30 p.m. CST on December 27, 2020. This curfew shall not apply to persons lawfully within the Explosion Impact Area who have obtained permission from the metropolitan chief of police, which permission shall be granted on good cause shown. Such a curfew also shall not apply to medical personnel in the performance of their duties.
3. The duration of this state of civil 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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. Department of Public Works;
   10. Nashville Electric Service;
   11. Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority;
   12. Metropolitan Transit Authority; and
   13. Department of General Services.
7. 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 25, 2020

John Cooper
Mayor