State of Emergency declared in Hickman

A Special Called Meeting of the Hickman City Commission will be held Feb. 22, at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall for the purpose of Resolution 18-104, Designation of Applicant's Agent; and Update of Land slide.

According to a press release on Feb. 20, from Fulton County Emergency Management, Hickman City Mayor Heath Carlton has declared a State of Emergency in the City of Hickman due to a mud slide in the area of Buchanan and Church Streets in Hickman.

One unoccupied structure has already received some damage, and other structures in the area could be affected should the subsidence continue.

Local personnel will be on scene Feb. 21, along with engineers, to assess the damage and take appropriate measures to ensure public safety.

Other damage in Hickman has been reported on Terrace Drive, with that street being closed.

Everyone is advised to stay away from these two areas of town.

The areas are saturated and eroding from underneath. There is the potential for additional slippage, especially if the predicted rainfall int he next couple of days materializes.

The Declaration of Local State of Emergency on Feb. 20 states:

WHEREAS, on Feb. 20, and ongoing, a significant amount of rainfall and subsequent flooding and other water related issues occurred in the City of Hickman, Kentucky; and

WHEREAS, a series of storms over several consecutive days left the City with significant and overwhelming rain and floodwater accumulations, creating extreme conditions in instability in the soil and bluffs located within the City limits and creating at least one land slide, displacing large amounts of soil and leaving the surrounding area in danger of further drop off or cave-in, jeopardizing homes, businesses and places of worship, exposing or breaking water lines, sloughing large amounts of mud from higher areas of the city onto lower ones, creating potentially hazardous road conditions, additional stress on the city's infrastructure, and water system, causing property damage, and creating the potential for additional landslides or soil loss and loss of homes or property, requiring extra vigilance on behalf of the City to provide basic safety and necessary services for the citizens of the City, and

WHEREAS, this situation creates a considerable hardship for the citizens of the City of Hickman, and

WHEREAS, local government has the responsibility to protect the public health, safety and welfare, and to mitigate the effects of such events.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Heath Carlton, Mayor of the City of Hickman, Kentucky, by and through authority vested in me by KRS 39A.100(2), do hereby declare that a State of Emergency exists in Hickman, Kentucky for the beginning on Feb. 20, 2019 and ongoing as rainfall continues and the instability of the cave-in area cannot be addressed at this time, endangering citizens and property in the days following, and direct that:

1. The local Emergency Operation Plan shall be fully executed:

2. That Leslie Woods, Director of Fulton County Office of Emergency Management shall direct the Fulton County Office of Emergency Management to provide such assistance as can be delivered from available local resources and shall coordinate all agencies of local government to provide assistance to the City of Hickman;

3. All agencies of the City of Hickman shall cooperate to the fullest extent with Fulton County Office of Emergency Management and shall provide such assistance as may be required for response to this emergency.

4. Under this state of Emergency, as provided in KRS 39A.100(2), Heath Carlton, Mayor of the City of Hickman can waive procedures and formalities otherwise required by the law pertaining to: a) performance of public work; b) entering into contracts; c) incurring obligations; d) employment of permanent and temporary workers; e) utilization of volunteer workers; f) rental of equipment; and g) appropriation and expenditure of public funds.

Heath Carlton,

Mayor, City of Hickman, Kentucky

ATTEST:

Donna Haney

City Clerk