CAPITOL CITY, OH — Ohio Governor Dale Fitch, 57, declared a statewide emergency Tuesday morning in response to what aides described as “a situation,” then paused at a live press conference to ask a staffer what, specifically, a state of emergency allows the governor to do.

The declaration, which Fitch had already signed in a private ceremony, photographed with staff, and framed for display outside his office, turned out to authorize emergency procurement procedures for supplies that had already been purchased through normal channels two weeks prior.

“We acted quickly, decisively, and with the full force of executive authority,” Fitch told reporters. “What that authority consists of legally is something my team is actively looking into.”

“The governor has declared seven states of emergency since taking office. This is the first one anyone has followed up on.”

Deputy Chief of Staff Renee Calloway, 41, confirmed the office has a standard template for emergency declarations that has been in use since 2011. “Honestly, they all say roughly the same thing,” Calloway said. “We adjust the situation description and the date. The governor signs them in the blue pen because he feels it photographs better.”

Opposition lawmakers called for a full review. The governor’s office issued a second proclamation declaring the first proclamation valid, which legal counsel noted was also non-binding.

At press time, Governor Fitch had signed a third document declaring his confidence in the process, which aides laminated and placed next to the first two.