EXECUTIVE ORDER

BY THE GOVERNOR:

WHEREAS:

WHEREAS :

WHEREAS:

ORDERED:

ORDERED:

The Georgia Forestry Commission has reported that wildfires in
Southeast Georgia and in particular, Bacon, Clinch, Coffee and
Long Counties, have resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of
acres of commercial timber, threatened numerous communities,
forced the closure of state highways and community schools, and
required the evacuation of residents; and

The short-term and long—term weather forecasts are for continued
patterns of dryness and strong winds which will promote the
creation of new wildfires and constrain the ability of the firefighters
to contain the existing fires; and

Additional State assistance is necessary to protect the public health,
preserve the safety of the public, keep property damage to a
minimum and support the firefighters and public safety personnel
who are responding to this continuing threat to communities in the
path of these growing wildfires.

NOW, THEREFORE, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY
VESTED IN ME AS GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
GEORGIA, IT IS HEREBY

That a State of Emergency exists in the following counties: Bacon,
Clinch, Coffee and Long.

IT IS FURTHER

That to facilitate the containment of these wildfires the Georgia
Forestry Commission continue to take necessary action to ensure
the expeditious containment, control and extinguishment of these
fires.