Declaration of Public Health Disaster Emergency for COVID-19 (Governor of State of Alaska)

This declaration will allow the governor to exercise his emergency powers to help meet, mitigate, and respond to the dangers posed by COVID-19. Specifically it will allow the Governor to: • Activate the state’s disaster response and recovery aspects of state, local, and interjurisdictional disaster emergency plans • Direct distribution of any supplies, equipment, materials, and facilities assembled, stockpiled, or arranged to be made available under the state’s disaster act • Use all available resources of the state government and of each political subdivision of the state as reasonably necessary to cope with the disaster • Transfer personnel or alter the functions of state departments and agencies or units in order to perform or facilitate performance of disaster emergency services • Make provisions for the availability and use of temporary emergency housing • Allocate food, water, fuel, clothing, medicine, or supplies • Assure the release of funds from the state’s Disaster Relief Fund to local or state agencies, and “set the table” for the state to obtain further federal disaster assistance In conjunction with AS 18.15.390, and in coordination with DMVA, provide greater authority to respond quickly to an outbreak in appropriate circumstances, including by: • Close, direct, compel evacuation of, or decontamination of any facility if there is reasonable cause to believe the facility may endanger public health • Adopting and enforcing measures to provide for safe disposal of infectious waste or contaminated material as may be reasonable and necessary to respond to the disaster • And additional authorities.