WHEREAS, as County Administrator and Director of Emergency Management of the County of Sussex, Virginia, I do hereby find:

1. Sussex County has received significantly less than normal precipitation over the past 30+ days ending December 16, 2021; and

2. Abnormally dry conditions exist across the County; and

3. The potential for significant wildland fires is above normal in the County; and

4. The National Weather Service has moderate to high confidence that precipitation amounts will be at or below normal over at least the next five days; and

5. Due to the forecasted continued dry conditions, the County could experience elevated public safety risks for citizens and first responders; and

6. The severely dry conditions that currently exist are favorable for rapid fire spread which has the potential to impact life safety, cause peril to property and create significant widespread fire hazard conditions, which necessitates the proclamation of the existence of a local emergency; and

7. Under the authority of Section 44.-146.21 of the Code of Virginia, as Director of Emergency Management, I do hereby declare a Local Emergency for Sussex County.

8. Under the authority of Section 15.2-922.1 of the Code of Virginia, I do hereby institute a county-wide ban on open-air burning and outdoor fires, until further notice.

9. Open burning is the burning of material wherein products of combustion are emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through a stack or chimney from an enclosed chamber. This includes, but is not limited to, burning of leaves, brush, woody debris and/or other vegetation.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED that effective the date and time below, an emergency exists throughout the Sussex County, Virginia; and

IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that during the existence of said emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the Emergency Management Organization of the County of Sussex, Virginia, shall be those prescribed by State Law and the Ordinances, Resolutions, and approved plans of the Sussex County Board of Supervisors in order to mitigate the effects of said emergency.

Effective Date: December 16, 2021
Effective Time: 6:00 p.m.

Reid Foster, Director of Emergency Management

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