MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey has issued a state of emergency for 37 counties, including 13 North Alabama counties, ahead of this weekend’s winter weather.
“Cold temperatures have persisted in Alabama this week, and we are anticipating the potential for winter weather to impact our state, particularly our driving conditions,” Ivey said. “As we all know, winter weather is challenging in a state like Alabama due to forecast uncertainties. That being said, I encourage Alabamians to make any needed preparations today, and if you are in an impacted area and do not have to be on the road, try to avoid it.
“Keep an eye on your local forecasts and stay weather aware.”
Ivey’s proclamation activates the Alabama National Guard and prohibits price gouging.
“I hereby direct the Alabama National Guard to prepare to be activated on order of the Governor to respond to this winter weather event, and I direct the appropriate state agencies to exercise their statutory and regulatory authority to assist the affected communities and entities in responding to and recovering from this event,” she wrote. “In accordance with the Alabama Unconscionable Pricing Act, all persons are hereby placed on notice that, in the counties expressly identified above, it is unlawful for any person to impose unconscionable prices (i.e., to engage in ‘price gouging‘) for the sale or rental of any commodity or rental facility during the period of a declared state of emergency.”
The counties include: Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Macon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Winston.
The state of emergency will go into effect today at 1 p.m. and will remain in effect for the duration of this state of emergency. Alabama law specifies that a state of emergency ordinarily will last 60 days; however, it may be terminated earlier by written proclamation.
The proclamation is available here.
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