HomeMy WebLinkAboutExecutive Order 01-2025 - Declaring a Local Disaster Emergency in Response to the Food Access EmergencyFiled in Clerk's Office
Bianca Tirado
City Clerk, South Bend, IN
CITY OF SOUTH BEND
MAYOR JAMES MUELLER
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 01-2025
DECLARING A LOCAL DISASTER EMERGENCY IN RESPONSE TO THE
FOOD ACCESS EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, due to the ongoing lapse in appropriations within the federal government, the
U.S. Department of Agriculture has ceased funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
("SNAP") benefits effective November 1, 2025, creating an abrupt and unprecedented disruption in
food assistance; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that approximately twenty thousand (20,000) South Bend
residents rely on SNAP to meet their food needs, which is nearly one -fifth of the City's population,
and this sudden lapse in benefits places a significant portion of South Bend's residents at imminent
risk of food insecurity; and
WHEREAS, this interruption of benefits threatens the health, safety, and welfare of South
Bend residents, particularly the most vulnerable, and will strain local organizations already
operating at or near capacity; and
WHEREAS, the hardship created by this lapse in benefits will increase the demand for
assistance from local government, charitable organizations, and community partners; and
WHEREAS, the resulting food access emergency is expected to generate sudden distress
and suffering in the South Bend community; and
WHEREAS, while there has been pending litigation nationwide regarding the availability of
federal funds to pay for SNAP benefits, the urgent needs of the community require immediate action
to mitigate the distress and suffering generated by the food access emergency, rather than waiting
for the outcome of litigation; and
WHEREAS, the executive officer of a political subdivision is authorized to declare a local
disaster emergency pursuant to Indiana Code 10-14-3-29.
NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as the Chief Executive and
Administrative Officer of the City, I hereby issue an emergency declaration in accordance with I.C.
10-14-3-29. In furtherance of this emergency declaration, I announce the following emergency
measures:
SECTION 1. Utility Moratorium.
The City hereby issues a moratorium on shutoffs for any utility accounts enrolled in the
Utility Assistance Program ("UAP") as of the issuance of this Executive Order through
February 5, 2026.
SECTION 2. Food Bank Support
The City shall donate the sum of no less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) to Food
Bank of Northern Indiana, Inc. and encourages partner agencies to join the City in supporting
food assistance efforts in the community.
SECTION 3. Filing and Posting of Executive Order.
The Clerk of the City of South Bend shall cause this Executive Order continuing the
declaration of a local disaster emergency to be filed promptly in the office of the City Clerk
for public inspection, and a copy shall be posted promptly on the City website, all pursuant
to Ind. Code Section 10-14-3-29 (a).
SECTION 4. Effective Date.
This Executive Order shall become effective at 2:00 p.m. on November 5, 2025 and
shall remain in effect for the next seven (7) days or until it is revoked, rescinded or modified
by me or upon passage of a resolution of the South Bend Common Council revoking its prior
consent to this continuance. The Common Council may take action to extend this initial
seven-day period and consent to the emergency measures set forth herein pursuant to Indiana
Code 10-14-3-29(a)(2).
Dated this 5th day of November, 2025.
CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA
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J es Mueller, Mayor
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Bianca Tirado, Clerk
Filed in Clerk's Office
Bianca Tirado
City Clerk, South Bend, IN