Northport declares emergency as Hurricane Debbie approaches

In a recent government meeting, the Northport City Commission swiftly approved the agenda and moved to address pressing matters, including an emergency ordinance in response to Hurricane Debbie.

Vice Mayor Stokes initiated the meeting with a motion to approve the agenda, which was seconded by Commissioner Langdon, resulting in a unanimous voice vote of 4-0 in favor. Following this, the commission proceeded to discuss Ordinance Number 2024-29, which declares a state of local emergency due to the impending threat of Hurricane Debbie.

Commissioner McDowell made a motion for the city clerk to read the ordinance by title only, which was also seconded by Commissioner Langdon. The motion passed with another unanimous vote. The ordinance grants the city manager the authority to take necessary actions as outlined in Florida statutes, including the procurement of goods and services to address the emergency.

The commission is expected to continue discussions on the ordinance, with a motion to approve it already on the table. The swift actions taken by the commission highlight the urgency of the situation as the city prepares for potential impacts from the hurricane.