Los Angeles, CA—This morning, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Janice Hahn signed a declaration of local emergency as Hurricane Hilary makes its way into Southern California. County departments and agencies, including the Office of Emergency Management, LA County Fire Department, LA County Sheriff’s Department and LA County Public Works have mobilized augmented staff and equipment in preparation for the storm’s arrival.
“This storm is unlike any we have seen in recent memory, but LA County has been preparing. Our County departments have been hard at work to make sure that residents are aware of the storm’s progress and protected from its impacts as much as possible. But this is an all-hands-on-deck response, and with this declaration we will be able to receive state and federal assistance,” said Hahn. “I’m thankful for the round the clock work of our County family and this assistance from our state and federal partners.”
The emergency declaration unlocks the possibility of receiving emergency assistance including but not limited to funds from state and federal agencies.
“By proclaiming a local emergency, Los Angeles County, has the ability to use emergency powers, when necessary and request assistance from state and federal partners. It is also a mechanism to seek financial assistance from the state and federal governments and seek mutual aid from governmental and non-governmental organizations. This is just one measure the County is taking prior to the arrival of any severe weather coming to the area, in our expansive toolkit of preparedness and response we have at our disposal,” said Kevin McGowan, Director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management.