state of emergency

[steyt uhv i-mur-juhn-see]

noun

1. a situation of urgent need for help and relief, brought about by a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other crisis, especially as declared by a governor, president, mayor, or other official.

   As devastation from last night’s tornadoes continues to be assessed, the governor has declared a state of emergency in the three worst-hit counties.

Word History and Origins

Origin of state of emergency¹

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Last month, citing heightened fire risk, the Malibu City Council declared a state of emergency and directed the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office to remove people engaged in unpermitted camping and, if necessary, arrest them to accomplish that goal.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A state of emergency is a precursor to enacting an eviction moratorium for households that have lost income due to the raids.

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Tenants who can prove they are affected by the ongoing state of emergency cannot be evicted for unpaid rent under eviction moratoriums, but they still owe back rent once the moratorium expires.

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The new legislation, like the prior law, only applies in situations where a state of emergency has been declared, which typically occurs after a catastrophic fire.

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Gov. Josh Stein said the storm could damage infrastructure and roads and declared a state of emergency, positioning water-rescue teams and the state National Guard to respond.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal