Liberty County Judge Jay Knight, along with the Liberty County Office of Emergency Management, has declared a state of disaster for Liberty County as a result of Hurricane Laura.
While the worst of the storm is missing Liberty County, the threat of hurricane force winds, tornadoes, flooding and other weather-related conditions still exist, prompting an overnight curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for all areas within the county.
This curfew does not apply to a person authorized by the Emergency Management Director to assist in the production of health, safety or welfare of the public, or a person who remains or travels upon private property that is owned by that person or upon which the person has been invited.
The County will also be watching for price-gouging. Goods or services cannot be sold for more than the price charged on Aug. 24, 2020. This includes the following items:
- groceries, beverages, toilet articles, ice;
- construction and building materials and supplies, and earthmoving equipment and machinery;
- electrical and gas generating and transmission equipment, parts and accessories;
- charcoal briquettes, matches, candles, lamp illumination and heat unit carbides, dry batteries, light bulbs, flashlights and hand lanterns;
- hand tools (manual and power), hardware and household supplies, and equipment rental;
- automotive parts, supplies and accessories;
- plumbing and electrical tools and supplies;
- apartment, duplex, multi-family dwelling, rooming house, hotel and motel rental;
- gasoline, diesel oil, motor oil, kerosene, grease and automotive lubricants;
- restaurant, cafeteria and boarding house meals;
- services of roofing and building contractors, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, tree surgeons and automobile wrecker companies;
- medicine, pharmaceutical, and medical equipment and supplies \
- blankets, quilts, bedspreads, bed linens, mattresses, bedsprings, bedsteads, towels and toilet paper; and
- furniture and clothing
Any person in violation of the order, upon conviction, is subject to a fine of up to $500.
The order is in effect immediately and will remain in place until lifted.
This directive should become a State Law. That would be a very good law