City Council approves extension of Declaration of Disaster for Eagle Pass

By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015

The City of Eagle Pass City Council ratified a resolution extending the order of the Declaration of Disaster executed by Mayor Ramsey English Cantu pursuant to Section 418.108, Texas Government Code, regarding the severe flooding that occurred in Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Texas on October 8, 2015 arising from 12 inches of torrential rains at their special meeting held on Tuesday, October 20,2015.

Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu opened up agenda item No.16 calling for the extension of the Declaration of Disaster and briefly explained the process under the ratification being sought.

“On the 8th Day of October, 2015, the City of Eagle Pass and Maverick County suffered widespread damage, injury, and loss of property resulting from severe flooding due to torrential rain; and whereas, the Mayor of Eagle Pass executed a Declaration of Disaster in order to activate the appropriate recovery and rehabilitation aspects of all applicable local or inter-jurisdictional emergency management plans and authorize the furnishing of assistance under said declaration; and whereas, § 418.108(b), Texas Government Code provides that the Declaration of Disaster may not be continued for a period of more than 7 days except with the consent of the City Council; and whereas, the City Council finds that it is necessary and appropriate to continue with the recovery and rehabilitation efforts afforded by the Declaration of Disaster as executed by the Mayor on October 8, 2015. Now , therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Eagle Pass, Texas as follows: Pursuant to § 418.108(b) of the Texas Government Code, the Declaration of Disaster executed by Mayor Ramsey English Cantu on October 8, 2015, is hereby renewed and will continue to be in full force and effect until the City of Eagle Pass deems it unnecessary to continue,“ reads the resolution.

The City of Eagle Pass will now apply for all available state and federal emergency disaster relief funds to repair the damages to the city’s infrastructure and local residents properties.