STATE OF INDIANA
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
INDIANAPOLIS
FOR: CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF DISASTER RECOVERY
TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS MAY COME, GREETINGS.
WHEREAS, a state of disaster emergency was declared in forty-seven (47) Indiana counties (by Executive Orders 08-09, 08-10, 08-11 and Presidential Order) due to heavy rainfall, tornados, severe winds and flash flooding which swept through the state beginning May 30 through June 7, 2008; and
WHEREAS, these storms destroyed and inflicted significant damage on thousands of homes, businesses and private and public infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, Indiana requested an expedited major disaster declaration from the President in order to seek immediate relief for the thousands of Hoosiers affected by the storms; and
WHEREAS, the state partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency ("FEMA") and the Red Cross to establish one stop assistance centers, staffed by representatives from the state Department of Health, Workforce Development, FSSA, Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), Department of Insurance, Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Department of Agriculture, and the Office of Technology, to help those impacted by the storms with immediate response efforts; and
WHEREAS, FEMA declared thirty-nine (39) Indiana counties eligible for individual assistance and thirty-four Indiana counties eligible for public assistance; and
WHEREAS, the need arises for the State to undertake the task of long-term recovery from the storms by developing plans and policies and continuing to coordinate relief efforts among federal, state and local agencies and other public and private entities.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Indiana, do hereby order that:
1. The Office of Disaster Recovery ("The Office") is now established to manage and implement long-term recovery plans and policies.
2. The Office shall be charged with:
a. Exercising the necessary operational authority in recovery effort decisions on behalf of the State;
b. Obtaining the maximum amount of federal funds in support of recovery and rebuilding efforts by individuals, businesses, state agencies and local units of governments;
c. Proving [sic] technical assistance, education and outreach to local governments and private organizations working on recovery efforts at the community level; and
d. Developing a final report to the Governor on the response and recovery efforts, including recommendations for the future based on lessons learned during this experience.
3. The Office shall be located within the Office of the Governor and will be the lead state entity directing storm relief efforts among federal and state agencies and other public and private entities to the fullest extent permitted by law.
4. The Director of the Office shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
5. The Director shall further be authorized and directed to organize the Office in such manner as the Director deems necessary or appropriate to achieve the objectives set forth in this Executive Order.
6. All instrumentalities, agencies, authorities, boards, commissions, and officers of the executive, including the administrative, department of state government, as well as all bodies corporate and politic set up as instrumentalities of the State, shall cooperate with and provide assistance to the Office in implementing this Executive Order to the fullest extent permitted by law in order to fully respond and recover from this disaster or subsequent disasters that affect the State while the office is in operation.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I, Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Indiana on this 7th day of July, 2008.
Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr.
Governor of Indiana
Posted: 02/11/2009 by Legislative Services Agency
DIN: 20090211-IR-GOV090066EOA
Composed: May 06,2024 3:35:49AM EDT
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