(Washington, DC) Today Mayor Vincent Gray signed into order a Declaration of Public Emergency associated with Hurricane Irene, which is rapidly

approaching the District and therefore is “an imminent threat to the health, safety and welfare of District residents that require emergency protective actions.”

The declaration is effective August 27, 2011 and shall stay in effect for 15 days until and unless provided for by further Mayoral Order.

The order applies to all departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the District government as provided in the District’s Response Plan (DRP) overseen by

the Director of DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA). The Chief Financial Officer of the District is authorized to approve the disbursement of all appropriations necessary to carry out the order.

The state of emergency authorizes HSEMA to apply for financial assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal, private or non-profit disaster relief and recovery organizations.