(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today approved an emergency declaration suspending the regulatory provisions pertaining to hours of service for drivers of commercial motor vehicles transporting propane. The order is effective immediately and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28^th, 2014.

The proclamation is as follows:

WHEREAS, because of the late harvest and the recent high demand for petroleum products throughout the upper Midwest portions of the United States, the people of the State of Iowa are faced with extremely low supplies of propane; and

WHEREAS, adequate supplies of propane are necessary to provide residential heating to our citizens, particularly those in rural portions of the state; and

WHEREAS, the effects of this propane shortage are being felt throughout the State of Iowa; and

WHEREAS, the limited suspension of certain hours of service regulations for drivers of commercial motor vehicles transporting propane in our state will increase the amount of propane transported throughout the State of Iowa, thereby reducing the damaging effects of this shortage; and

WHEREAS, these conditions threaten the peace, health, and safety of the citizens of the State of Iowa and its agricultural industry and accordingly provide legal justification for the issuance of a Proclamation of a State of Disaster Emergency pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(1).

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TERRY E. BRANSTAD, Governor of the State of Iowa, by the power and authority vested in me by the Iowa Constitution Art. IV, §§ 1, 8 and Iowa Code § 29C.6(1), and all other applicable laws, do hereby proclaim a State of Disaster Emergency for the entire state of Iowa and do hereby ORDER and DIRECT the following:

SECTION One.  I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code § 321.449 pertaining to hours of service for drivers of commercial motor vehicles transporting propane, during the duration of this disaster, subject to these conditions:

A.    Nothing contained in this Proclamation shall be construed as an exemption from the controlled substances and alcohol use and testing requirements under 49 CFR Part 382, the commercial drivers' license requirements under 49 CFR Part 383, the financial responsibility requirements of 49 CFR Part 387, or any other portion of the Code of Federal Regulations not specifically identified in this proclamation.

A.      No motor carrier operating under the terms of this proclamation shall require or allow a fatigued or ill driver to operate a motor vehicle. A driver who informs a carrier that he or she needs immediate rest shall be given at least ten consecutive hours off duty before the driver is required to return to service.

B.      Upon the request of a driver, a commercial motor carrier operating under this proclamation must give a driver at least thirty-four (34) consecutive hours off when the driver has been on duty for more than seventy (70) hours during any eight consecutive days.

C.      Motor carriers that have an out-of-service order in effect may not take advantage of the relief from regulations that this declaration provides under title 49 CFR § 390.23.

D.     Upon the expiration of the effective date of this Proclamation, or when a driver has been relieved of all duty and responsibility to provide direct assistance to the emergency effort, a driver that has had at least thirty-four (34) consecutive hours off duty shall be permitted to start his or her on-duty status hours and 60/70 hour clock at zero.

SECTION Two. This state of disaster emergency shall be effective immediately, shall continue for (18) days, and shall expire on January 28, 2014, at 11:59 p.m., unless sooner terminated or extended in writing by me.

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Heroic Rescue Stories Emerge; Thousands Worked Around the Clock to Keep Illinois Residents Safe During Winter Blast

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today thanked the emergency workers who provided around-the-clock assistance during this week's historic winter storm and freeze. Since last week, thousands of state employees worked tirelessly to clear Illinois roads, rescue stranded motorists and keep people safe. During the storm, many heroic rescue stories surfaced and the Governor thanked workers who made the state's effective storm response possible.

"When disaster strikes the heartland, Illinois' first responders are on the job to keep people safe," Governor Quinn said. "Illinois is a community of shared values. I want to recognize and thank our response and emergency personnel who have been working day and night to assist those in need during this remarkable storm."

"People across our state stepped up to help, from those driving the salt and plow trucks at all hours of the night to keep interstates safe to our neighbors who checked on their neighbors during extremely low temperatures," the Governor said. "This was an amazing effort during an amazing winter storm."

The Governor monitored weather conditions hour-by-hour and directed the state's agencies to take a number of steps in response to the heavy snow and severe cold gripping Illinois. On Sunday, the Governor activated the State Emergency Operations Center in Springfield to coordinate the state's response to the storm. Representatives from critical safety agencies staffed the center 24 hours a day throughout the duration of the storm and dangerously low temperatures. As a dangerous combination of black ice and snow drifts developed overnight, Governor Quinn issued a statewide disaster declaration, which activated the state's emergency operations plan and allowed him to activate the Illinois National Guard to assist state and local emergency responders. As conditions continued to worsen, the Governor implemented the State's Continuity of Operations/Continuity of Government Plans to ensure continued delivery of critical state response services during the severe winter weather conditions while protecting the state's workforce.

Several state agencies were at the forefront of the state's storm response, and individual stories of heroism emerged during the days they protected and served the citizens of Illinois.

Department of Transportation

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) had 1,755 trucks assigned to snow duty across the state, and nearly 3,700 full-time and part-time employees available to help ensure roads were clear and passable. Statewide, IDOT and Tollway crews dispersed more than of 70,000 tons of salt on Illinois roadways during the weather emergency.

IDOT cleared the way for an ambulance that was transporting a woman experiencing a difficult child birth in Stark County. The Stark County Sheriff's Department contacted IDOT and informed them that there was a woman having a difficult labor in Wyoming, Ill., and the ambulance needed a snowplow to try to escort them to the hospital in Kewanee. The IDOT snow shift foreman from the Stark County maintenance yard in Wyoming informed responders that the best route for the ambulance would be to take Route 17 to Route 78, arriving at the hospital in Kewanee. IDOT Districts 2 and 4 then worked to get the needed snow plows to the area so the ambulance would have a clear path. The baby boy, Subal Patel - 6 pounds 7 ounces and 22 inches long - arrived shortly after the ambulance reached the hospital in Kewanee. Mother Parul Patel, proud father Chad Patel, and little Subal are all doing fine.

Tollway

The Illinois Tollway deployed its full fleet of 182 snowplows and called in more than 400 employees to keep its 286 miles of roadway clear. The Tollway deployed 11 H.E.L.P.  trucks and 22 Zero Weather Road Patrols operating around the clock during the extreme cold that followed the snowfall. Tollway employees and Illinois State Police District 15 provided emergency assistance to 1,099 customers across the system. The *999 Cellular Express Line System handled 1,869 calls from customers during the snowstorm and extreme freeze.

In addition to salt, the Tollway used 1,293 tons of roadway abrasives and sprayed 1,900 gallons of liquid Calcium Chloride. There were 275 accidents reported on the Tollway system during the severe weather. At the storm's peak, the Central Dispatch Center was handling more than 75 incidents simultaneously involving both Illinois State Police District 15 and Tollway maintenance crews.

Ed Robinson, a Tollway H.E.L.P. truck operator on the Tri-State Tollway in Lake County stopped Tuesday night to help two customers whose car broke down as they were driving to O'Hare Airport, leaving them without heat in the extreme cold.  After arranging to have the vehicle towed to an auto repair shop, they learned the car could not be repaired that night because the shop was busy and getting ready to close, leaving them stranded. After learning about the new trouble, Robinson met the couple on his own time after his shift ended and installed an alternator in the car so they could complete their trip to O'Hare safely. Afterward, he told his supervisor that he wanted to help the couple and ensure their safety, and hoped that someone would do the same for his kids.

State Police

Statewide, from Sunday to Tuesday, the Illinois State Police responded to more than 6,000 thousands of incidents including 3,932 motorist assists, 792 crashes and 534 traffic stops. All available personnel, including SWAT team members and Crime Scene Services, worked to make the roads safer and respond to emergencies.

The ISP organized a multi-agency "Rescue Task Force" in Livingston County late Sunday night when several motorists became stranded on Route 116 and road conditions prevented emergency responders from reaching them. At about 10 p.m. Cecilia Zroegaert and Steven Zroegaert became stuck in a ditch three miles west of Saunemin. Several other motorists were also stuck on Route 116 due to heavy snow and white-out conditions. State Police District 6 was notified of the stranded motorists and quickly deployed the "Rescue Task Force" that included two Department of Transportation snow plows, two tow trucks, and a State Police SWAT operator driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Starting from Pontiac and led by a District 6 Sergeant in a patrol car, the task force had to clear more than nine miles of Route 116 in order to reach the stranded motorists.

Temperatures continued to drop and progress was slow as the rescue team encountered large snow drifts rapidly accumulating from the high winds. At about 11 p.m. the rescue team reached a section of highway covered by snow drifts more than six feet tall that prevented the plows and emergency equipment from moving any further. The Saunemin Fire Department's attempt to rescue the motorists from the opposite direction on Route 116 was blocked by abandoned vehicles left on the highway.

State Police Sergeant Tim Sweeney and Trooper David Diller worked diligently to find a local resource to assist. About 11:30 p.m. they located a citizen from Saunemin, Matthew Harms, who set out to rescue the motorists using his snowmobile. By this time the Zroegaerts' vehicle was low on fuel and no longer able to provide heat; the rescuers told the Zroegaerts by cell phone to honk their horn every few minutes to help Harms locate them. Harms finally located the Zroegaerts shortly after midnight and drove them to safety. Harms then checked every stranded vehicle in the area to ensure no others needed assistance.

The rescue task force was finally able to clear Route 116 to Saunemin at about 1:30 a.m. Monday.

Department of Natural Resources

A total of 58 Conservation Police Officers from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) equipped with four-wheel-drive vehicles and eight snowmobiles, performed 500 public assists, including motorist assistance, welfare checks and relays during the winter weather emergency.

Conservation Police Officer Robert Wellum carried a five gallon can of gasoline on foot nearly one mile in 20 degrees below zero wind chills to a family in Clark County whose emergency generator had run out of fuel. On Monday, Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. a 911 call was made by a family of four, including two small children, stranded in their home in rural Clark County. They had run out of gas to power their generator and the home was without power and heat. Officer Wellum went to nearby gas station to fill up a five gallon gas can using his own money, then drove as close as possible to the home, but snow drifts had made roads impassable. Wellum got out of his truck and walked one mile to the family's home while carrying the can of gas, and he arrived just in time - the temperature in the home was at 52 degrees and rapidly dropping.

Conservation Police Officer Trent Reeves rescued seven people and two pets that were trapped by snow drifts along Route 47 north of Mahomet. Emergency vehicles could not reach the people, so Officer Reeves traveled by snowmobile and on foot to rescue the stranded individuals and deliver them to nearby emergency vehicles. All of those rescued, including the pets, are fine. Officer Jim Mayes assisted with the rescue, and himself used his truck to rescue six individuals who were stranded on Interstate 74 in east central Illinois.

National Guard

More than 30 Illinois Army National Guard mechanics were activated to support the winter storm efforts by assisting IDOT with truck repair and maintenance of winter storm equipment degraded by the events over the last week. On Jan. 6 Governor Quinn activated two soldiers and a heavy-duty military wrecker to help  IDOT and State Police pull three civilian vehicles and five semi tractor-trailers out of the snow and line of traffic.

Personnel from the Illinois National Guard field maintenance shop in Mattoon coordinated with Illinois State Police troopers and Illinois Department of Transportation snow plow crews to assist motorists in approximately 375 vehicles backed up on I-70 and I-57 north of Effingham Sunday evening. The backup was the result of several vehicles and semi-trucks that were stuck in snow drifts, making it impossible for snow plows to clear the route for the cars to proceed. Illinois National Guard personnel used a wrecker to pull the stranded vehicles and trucks from the road, which allowed IDOT crews to clear the road and rescue hundreds of passengers.

National Guard soldiers were also on hand to ensure that IDOT vehicles were fully operational and capable of handling the intense cold and snow which could affect all vehicles on Illinois roads.

"The snow storm and extreme temperatures has an effect on vehicles and personnel, and the man-power we have is not able to keep up with repairs," James McKay, an engineer technician with IDOT Emergency Traffic Patrol (ETP) in Chicago, said of conditions before the National Guard arrived. "With the over whelming amount or repairs our maintenance division has right now, help is definitely needed. You are coming to our rescue, you're putting our fleet back into operating condition, and we are very thankful."

"The Soldiers are great. They showed up early, had their A-game on, and were ready to work," Joseph Lonero, an equipment expeditor with IDOT ETP in Chicago, said. "We have over 100 vehicles district wide that need repairs, we will keep them busy and we are thankful for the help."

Department of Human Services

During the storm, the Governor opened and encouraged residents to find shelter in the state's more than 100 warming centers, including Illinois Department of Human Services offices throughout the state, and the seven Illinois Tollway Oases. Hundreds of individuals took advantage of the warming centers over the course of the storm.

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Financial Planner: Another 2008-style Economic Disaster
Could Happen Again, Suggests New Kind of Diversity

While the world is still feeling the long ripples of the economic meltdown that began six years ago, our economic institutions remain "too big to fail" - at least in the minds of  millions of retired Americans and those soon to join their ranks, says veteran financial advisor Curt Whipple.

"That's what we see when we review their retirement portfolios," says Whipple, a Certified Wealth Strategist, Certified Estate Planner and CEO of C. Curtis Financial Group. He recently published "Retiree Lifeline! How to Get Government Out of Your Pocket," (ccurtisfinancial.com), a retirement planning guide.

"I see it all the time: a new client comes in with what they believe to be a 'diverse' portfolio. While it may be diverse in terms of Wall Street holdings, a solid retirement plan also requires diversity outside of a system that's 'too big to fail,' which could fail yet again."

When Wall Street falls, it shouldn't mean that Main Street must as well. Whipple outlines the three kinds of money retirees should have available for enjoying the golden years with peace of mind.

• Red money ... can be defined as that which is tied to Wall Street, by far the most popular kind of investment, including stocks, bonds and mutual funds. "I've been looking at the accounts of new clients for nearly three decades, and on average, 92 percent of their retirement plan is based in these investments," he says. "That's risky, especially as you get closer to retirement age or once you retire. You don't want 92 percent of your retirement premised on that kind of potential volatility."

• Blue money ... is often referred to as "alternative investments," which typically include Real Estate Trusts (REITS), equipment leasing programs, precious metals such as gold and silver, high grade rare coins and collectibles. "This 'color' of money has been an important portion of the pie for success in my clients' investments; they were essentially unaffected by our recent economic collapse because they were so well diversified." This is a highly advantageous part of a portfolio because it historically creates good income with a low correlation to the stock market.

• Green money ... is accounts that come with a guarantee of some sort. They are either backed by the FDIC, the Legal Reserve System, which is supported by the insurance industry, or insurance companies themselves. "Not all wealth is created equally, and this is the safest kind of money you can have in your retirement plan," he says. Green money includes investments in one's portfolio that have guarantees to not lose one's principal and, sometimes, one's earnings.

"Investment in Wall Street should be much lower for those who are either retired or are about to be retired," Whipple says. "Depending on a person's age, a good investment portfolio could include about 36 percent red money, 32 percent blue money and 32 percent green money."

About Curt Whipple, CWS, CEP

Curt Whipple, Certified Wealth Strategist (CWS) and Certified Estate Planner (CEP), is Chief Managing Partner at the C. Curtis Financial Group, which he formed in 1986. Since then, Curtis Financial Group has counseled and advised individuals and corporations on their financial goals and decisions. Whipple is a nationally recognized speaker.

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced they will lead a group of senior state officials from Iowa and the Midwest to organize and host a public hearing allowing citizens outside of Washington, D.C., the opportunity to testify about the importance of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).  The RFS has proven an important policy framework for empowering consumers with additional and lower-cost choices at the pump, diversifying our nation's energy portfolio, reducing harmful transportation emissions, supporting the growth of the Midwest economy, and reducing our dependence on overseas oil.

Gov. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Reynolds, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and the entire Iowa congressional delegation sent a letter to President Barack Obama, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack on December 20, 2013, encouraging Federal officials to host a public hearing in Iowa or the Midwest to give more citizens the opportunity to provide perspective and data on the EPA's proposal to reduce volume obligation levels for 2014 in the RFS.  The White House, Administrator McCarthy and Secretary Vilsack each declined the invitation and the opportunity to host a hearing on this important issue.  Thus, Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds, along with other leaders from the Midwest have stepped up to host this important hearing event.

Governor Branstad stated the following:  "Iowans, and Midwesterners, deserve the opportunity to make the case for their futures and I was disappointed to hear that the Federal Government has declined our invitation to host a hearing in the Midwest.  We believe it is necessary to host this public hearing for Iowans and other Midwesterners to enable them to more easily provide comments on the EPA's proposal, which could cost nearly 45,000 jobs, have a negative ripple effect through the U.S. economy and would hinder consumer choice at the pump."

Branstad continued:  "It is important for Federal leaders to gain fresh perspective that is not clouded by the perpetual politics of Washington, DC.  Big Oil's army of DC lobbyists has clouded the debate on the value of renewable fuels to our nation's energy, economic and national security.  This hearing aims to clear the air and give citizens of the Heartland the opportunity to amplify their voice in this important Federal policy discussion."

Lt. Governor Reynolds added:  "So many Iowans have seen the tremendous economic benefits flowing from the biofuels and agriculture industries, including rewarding careers in rural America.  This EPA proposal is expected to cost thousands of jobs at a time when we are working tirelessly to create career opportunities throughout the state.  As elected leaders, it's our responsibility to listen to the people to ensure public policy decisions that directly impact Americans are made with the input of citizens affected.  We appreciate the help from the entire Iowa congressional delegation and leaders from other states in helping to organize this event."

Senator Chuck Grassley said:  "Too often, agencies in Washington, D.C., make decisions that affect the livelihoods of people in the rest of the country without hearing directly from those involved.  The opposite should be true.   The grass roots ought to be heard here and any time policy changes are under way that have implications on areas from local economies to national energy security.  It's truly unfortunate that the Obama Administration has refused to come to Iowa to hear grass roots concerns about its misguided proposal.  Governor Branstad is right to convene this hearing.  It will balance the big-oil bias and fill the void left by the Administration in Washington, D.C."

"Iowa's renewable fuels industry has benefited farmers, our rural communities, fuel customers and the environment, and they would be hurt if the EPA implemented the proposed rule to roll-back the RFS.  This event will be a great opportunity for Iowans to have their voice heard, let's hope the Obama administration and EPA officials in Washington are listening," said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.

"Minnesota is a leader in renewable energy development and the EPA proposal to reduce the RFS will thwart these ongoing efforts to grow homegrown fuels," said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson. "I visited with many of our ethanol producers just last week and the negative impact this proposal could have on their businesses and the rural economy throughout the Midwest is very real."

"While this debate is happening in Washington, D.C., the effects are felt in America's heartland," said South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture, Lucas Lentsch.  "Even the slightest signal of hesitation can disrupt markets and suggest doubt in our homegrown energy future."

Event Logistics: The event will be held at Hall of Laureates, 100 Locust Street
Des Moines, Iowa, on January, 23, 2014, with comments beginning at 8:30 AM, Central Standard Time.

Contact and RSVP Information: Interested individuals should RSVP to Julie Vande Hoef, Policy Advisor for the Governor, at Julie.VandeHoef@Iowa.gov by 9 AM on Tuesday, January 21, 2014.  Individuals should denote the following:

• Full Name
• Organization Being Represented (If applicable)
• Day of Event Phone Number
• Email Address
• Statement whether the individual would be interested providing verbal testimony as time allows.

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