skip navigation

MAYORAL DECLARATION OF LOCAL STATE OF DISASTER

Updated March 27, 2020 – City of Seymour, Texas

DUE TO PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY

WHEREAS, beginning in December 2019, a novel corona virus, now designated SARS-COV2, which causes the disease COVID-19, has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization; and

WHEREAS, the symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild to severe illness and cause further complications including death; and

WHEREAS, COVID-19 virus mainly spreads between people who are in close contact with one another through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes; and

WHEREAS, on March 13,2020, the Governor of the State of Texas issued a proclamation certifying that COVID-19 poses an imminent threat of disaster in the state and declaring a state of disaster for all counties in Texas; and

WHEREAS, the City of Seymour, Texas, is taking extraordinary  measures  to prevent the spread of this potentially devastating disease in our community; and

WHEREAS, said state of disaster requires that certain emergency protective measures be taken pursuant to the Texas Disaster Act of 1975 relating to Emergency Management and Public Health, pursuant to Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code.

WHEREAS, the Presidents’  Coronavirus  Guidelines  for America,  as  promulgated by President Donald  J. Trump  and  the CDC on March 16, 2020, call upon Americans to slow the spread of COVID-19 by avoiding social gatherings  in groups of more than 10 people, using drive-thru, pickup,  or delivery  options  at restaurants and bars, and avoiding  visitation  at nursing  homes,  among other steps.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SEYMOUR, TEXAS:

SECTION 1. That a local state of disaster for public health emergency is hereby declared for the City of Seymour, Texas, pursuant to Section 418.108 (a) of the Texas Local Government Code.

SECTION 2. That pursuant to Section 418.108 (b) of the Texas Government Code the state of disaster for public health emergency shall continue until further  notice.

SECTION 3. That pursuant to Section 418.108 ( c) of the Texas Government Code this declaration of a local state of disaster for public health emergency shall be given prompt and general publicity and shall be filed promptly with the City Secretary.

SECTION 4. That pursuant to Section 418.108 (d) of the Texas Government Code, this declaration of a local state of disaster activates the City of Seymour, Texas, emergency management plan, and authorizes the furnishing of aid assistance under the declaration.

SECTION 5. That this declaration authorizes the City to take  any actions necessary to promote health and suppress the virus,  including  the  quarantine  of persons and occupied structures, examining and regulating  hospitals,  regulating  ingress and egress from the City, regulating ingress and egress to occupied structures, establishment of quarantine stations, emergency hospitals,  and other hospitals, and insuring compliance for those who do not comply  with the City’s rules, pursuant to Section 122.006 of the Health and Safety Code.

SECTION 6. That this declaration hereby limits the size of gatherings to not more than 10 people and mandates the cancellation of all such gatherings until further notice. A “gathering” refers generally to a scheduled event or common endeavor where not more than 10 people are presented in a confined space, room, or area.

SECTION 7. In accordance with the Texas Government Code §418.173, a person who knowingly or intentionally violates this declaration commits an offense,

punishable by a fine up to $1,000.00 or confinement in jail for a term that does not exceed 180 days.

SECTION 8. That this declaration shall take effect immediately from and after its issuance.

RED, this 27th, day of March, 2020.

Jon Hrncirik, Mayor City of Seymour

ATTEST:

Conchita Torrez, City Secretary