Gov. Cooper Declared A State Of Emergency. What Does That Mean?

NORTH CAROLINA — Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency Tuesday after new coronavirus cases in North Carolina increased the state’s tally to seven, as public health officials warn the state to brace for more to come. During a state of emergency, state laws give the governor a wide range of powers for responding to the emergency.

Where do the governor's state of emergency powers come from?
North Carolina’s emergency management law dating back to 1977 grants the governor the power to declare a state of emergency. The governor can declare a state of emergency in response a natural or man-made disaster.

“A State of Emergency, according to state law, can be declared during a situation or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property, resulting from a natural or man-made cause,” according to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

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What can the governor do during a state of emergency?
A lot. The law governing states of emergency lists a number of specific powers, including the ability to exercise direction and control of the state’s emergency management program, to make orders, and to enter into agreements with disaster relief organizations, such as the American National Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

One of the main powers the law grants is more direct control over state resources, including employees. It also gives the governor control over federal resources that are given or loaned to the state.

But the declaration also gives Cooper the authority to effectively make temporary laws, such as curfews, as needed.

In Tuesday’s announcement, Cooper said the declaration activated the state’s Emergency Operations Center, which coordinates state agency resources. The declaration will also serve as a protection for consumers against price gouging, and make it easier for county health departments to access state funds.

What does the state of emergency mean for me?
Nothing, yet. Cooper did not issue any orders to the public as part of the declaration. But he did issue guidance.

“The health and safety of North Carolinians is our top priority. We are taking the necessary steps to ensure that North Carolina is prepared and responding to this virus, and this order helps us do that,” Cooper said. “Though we are still in the early stages in North Carolina, time is a valuable resource and we must work together to slow the spread while we can.”

North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services issued the following statewide recommendations:

HIGH-RISK PERSONS
NC DHHS recommends that people at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 avoid large groups of people as much as possible. This includes gatherings such as concert venues, conventions, church services, sporting events, and crowded social events. People at high risk should also avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.

CONGREGATE LIVING FACILITIES
NC DHHS recommends that all facilities that serve as residential establishments for high risk persons described above should limit visitors and restrict all visitors who have respiratory illness or potential exposure to COVID-19. These establishments include: nursing homes, independent and assisted living facilities, correctional facilities, and facilities that care for medically vulnerable children.

MASS GATHERING EVENTS
NC DHHS recommends that event organizers:

• Urge anyone who is sick to not attend.
• Encourage those who are at high risk, described above, to not attend.
• Adopt lenient refund policies for people who are high risk.
• Find ways to give people more physical space to limit close contact as much as possible.
• Encourage attendees to wash hands frequently.
• Clean surfaces with standard cleaners.

ALL TRAVELERS
NC DHHS recommends that all travelers returning from countries and US states impacted by COVID-19 follow DHHS guidance on self-monitoring.

RELATED:

• NC Coronavirus Cases In Wake County Lift State Total To 7
• COVID-19 In NC: Governor Declares State Of Emergency
• CMS Makes School Travel Decision Amid ‘Coronavirus Crisis’

Christopher Huffaker, Patch staff, contributed.