The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a regional emergency declaration for several states in the path of a possibly deadly severe weather coming later this week.
The August 24 FMCSA emergency declaration was issued in response to Hurricane Laura and Tropical Storm Marco and applies to Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
FMCSA says that the storms are expected to bring heavy rains, high surf, flooding and high winds that could be a threat to public welfare and human life. As of Tuesday morning, Laura has been declared a Hurricane and it is strengthening as it approaches Texas and Louisiana. It is expected to reach the Northwestern Gulf Coast by late Wednesday or early Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Laura has already killed 9 people in the Caribbean.
The emergency declaration provides motor carriers with relief from Parts 390 through 399 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulation while they are providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts transporting supplies, goods, equipment and fuel into the affected states, and transporting persons into and from the affected states, or providing other assistance in the form of emergency services during the emergency.
Drivers operating under the emergency declaration must still comply with controlled substances and alcohol use and testing requirements, the commercial driver’s license requirements, insurance) requirements, the hazardous material regulations, and applicable size and weight requirements.
Please click here to view the regional emergency declaration.