Sioux County declares drought emergency and adopts Local Emergency Operations Plan

The Sioux County Board of Commissioners approved a formal drought declaration at its Aug. 1, 2012 meeting, finding persistent drought conditions beginning June 28, 2012 that endangered public water supplies, production agriculture and increased fire risk. The declaration authorizes the chair to expend emergency funds, invoke mutual aid agreements and apply to the State of Nebraska for assistance.

Nan Gould, Region 23 Emergency Management Coordinator, requested the declaration and reviewed the Local Emergency Operations Plan (LEOP). The board also approved by resolution the 2012 Local Emergency Operations Plan, which the board noted supersedes prior county emergency plans and provides a coordinated response framework for disasters affecting Sioux County and the Village of Harrison.

Commissioners voted unanimously on both the declaration and the LEOP approval. The declaration and plan were recorded and signed at the Aug. 1 meeting; the resolutions and declaration were made available for public record through the county clerk’s office.

The board instructed staff to pursue applicable state assistance and to coordinate with regional partners on implementation steps outlined in the LEOP. The action makes available emergency funding authority and formalizes county-level emergency response responsibilities during the declared drought period.