NOTICE 

The FRA Administrator’s Declaration of Emergency Event: Hurricane Michael 

Pursuant to Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 211.45, Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Ronald Batory has determined that the imminent threat of Hurricane Michael, with flooding rains, potential power outages, and localized flash flooding conditions predicted to occur in the Gulf Coast region of the United States constitutes an “emergency event” as related to railroad operations. 

In making this determination, the Administrator notes that the National Weather Service has forecasted that Hurricane Michael is expected to increase in intensity to a Category 3 hurricane prior to making landfall along the Gulf Coast on or before Wednesday, October 10, 2018. A hurricane warning is in effect for the area stretching from the Florida Panhandle to the Florida Big Bend area and a hurricane watch is in effect in Alabama. The Governor of Florida has declared a State of Emergency for 35 counties and the Governor of Alabama has declared a State of Emergency for the entire state in anticipation of the storm’s landfall. 

Therefore, the Administrator has activated the Emergency Relief Docket (FRA-2018-0013) for Hurricane Michael as of October 9, and the emergency relief provisions of 49 CFR § 211.45 are in effect.