Governor, L.A. County declare state of emergency for swine flu
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today proclaimed a state of emergency over the spread of swine flu, expediting state agency responses to the outbreak.
The proclamation orders all state agencies to use staff and equipment to help the Department of Public Health under coordination of the California Emergency Management Agency. "While there is no need for alarm, it is the governor’s top priority to limit the swine flu’s spread as quickly and effectively as possible and this action represents one more step being taken to strengthen California’s response capabilities,’’ according to a statement by the governor’s office.
The order also suspends rules requiring competitive bids for services, material, personnel and equipment needed to respond to this outbreak and waives some certification requirements for public health laboratories to help in the state’s expansion of testing capabilities.
"The spread of the virus poses a threat to property in the state due to illness-related absenteeism, particularly among public safety and law enforcement personnel and persons engaged in activities and businesses critical to the economy and infrastructure of the state,’’ Schwarzenegger said in the proclamation.
He added that this strain of the swine flu "constitutes a potential epidemic … that, by reason of its magnitude, is beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single county, city … or regions to combat.’’
The Los Angeles Board of Supervisors also declared a local state of emergency today.
-- Patrick McGreevy
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Don't expect this declaration of emerency to be recinded soon. I wonder how California will deal with their overcrowd prisons which have to potential to become a death sentence to all prisoners, particularly due to their grossly overcrowded conditions.
Posted by: Brad Arnold | April 28, 2009 at 01:53 PM
EVERYONE IN OUR GOVERMENT IS MAKING A BIG DEAL OF THIS SO THE FACT OF MAKING WEED LEGAL DOSE NOT CAUSE A BIG INPACT. MAKING A BIGGER DEAL OF THIS WILL MAKE OTHER THINK ABOUT THIS AND NOT MAKING WEED LEGAL
Posted by: LUIS MADRIGAL | April 28, 2009 at 04:56 PM
It's Official.........California is the first Third World State...
Congratulation... you worked hard for this title....
Posted by: mlimberg | April 28, 2009 at 04:58 PM