EXECUTIVE ORDER: 17-02

FOR: CONTINUING THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY ADVISORY GROUP AND OTHER EMERGENCY MEASURES

TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS MAY COME, GREETINGS.

WHEREAS, IC § 10-19-2-1 established the Indiana Department of Homeland Security ("IDHS");

WHEREAS, IC § 10-14-3 provides for emergency management under the IDHS, and requires the IDHS to develop a state emergency operations plan;

WHEREAS, the State of Indiana, its political subdivisions, and citizens are subject to natural disasters on a regular basis, including, but not limited to, floods, tornadoes, severe winter storms, earthquakes, and droughts;

WHEREAS, the State of Indiana, its political subdivisions, and citizens are subject to disasters caused by humans or technology, including, but not limited to, hazardous material spills, widespread contamination, explosions, fires, major power failures, transportation accidents, and acts of terrorism;

WHEREAS, the State of Indiana, its political subdivisions, and citizens could be subject to disasters and emergencies related to our national security, including military attack and terrorist activity;

WHEREAS, in order to protect the public health, welfare and safety, and preserve the lives and property of the people of our State from such emergencies and disasters, the IDHS, under the provisions of IC § 10-14-2-4, is charged with the responsibility for coordinating the State's comprehensive emergency management program under the direction of the Governor; and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate and necessary to confirm, establish and clarify the duties and responsibilities of all state agencies in order that a comprehensive emergency management program can be successfully implemented.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Eric J. Holcomb, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Indiana, do hereby order that:

1. The Governor's Emergency Advisory Group ("EAG") shall be continued.

2. The EAG is composed of the following members:

3. The Director of the IDHS shall act as the chairperson of the EAG. Each member of the EAG may designate a deputy to serve as an alternate in the event that the principal member is unavailable to attend or participate in meetings of the EAG.

4. The Director of the IDHS shall continue the Indiana State Hazard Mitigation Council ("Council").

5. With respect to Paragraphs 1-4 of this Executive Order, they shall be effective to the extent they do not conflict with or are duplicative of any provisions found in Indiana Code.

6. In accordance with IC § 10-14-3-9 and IC § 10-14-3-19, the Director of the IDHS shall create and establish mobile support units to reinforce emergency management and disaster organizations in stricken areas and with due consideration of the plans of the federal government and of other states.

7. Whenever the Director of the IDHS exercises his or her authority under IC § 10-14, he or she shall be authorized to use and allocate the services, facilities, equipment, personnel, and resources of any state agency, on the Governor's behalf, as reasonably necessary in the preparation for, response to, or recovery from any emergency or disaster situation that threatens, or has occurred in, our State. Upon the request of the Director of the IDHS for such assistance from a state agency, all officers of that agency shall cooperate to the fullest extent possible. This authority to use and allocate state agency resources extends to their use before a formal declaration of a State Disaster Emergency, as provided for under IC § 10-14-3-12, and is subject to the Governor's subsequent approval. The cost of providing such services, facilities, equipment, personnel, and resources shall be borne by the providing state agency, unless otherwise notified that federal and/or other state funding reimbursement is determined to be available or other payment arrangements are made.

8. In order to expedite emergency response and recovery operations, one or more state agencies may be designated as lead agencies by the Director of the IDHS for various portions of the overall state response and recovery efforts. All actions of such designated lead state agencies shall be coordinated with, and through, the Director of the IDHS. Additionally, state agencies may be required to participate in the training, exercising, and actual deployment of mobile support teams.

9. Each agency of state government shall report any threatened or actual occurrences of natural, technological, human-caused, or national security emergencies that may require the resources of more than one agency of state government to the Director of the IDHS by the fastest means available. In the event of a threatened or actual occurrence of an emergency or disaster, the Director of the IDHS shall consult with the Governor, or with the Governor's Chief of Staff in the Governor's absence, as soon as possible.

10. In the event of a threatened or actual occurrence of an emergency or disaster, and upon the request of the Director of the IDHS, each agency of state government shall promptly require the agency's designated emergency management coordinator, or designee, to monitor and analyze information and participate as its representative in performing all tasks relating to the State of Indiana's response to the incident.

11. In accordance with IC § 10-14-3-9, the IDHS shall ensure that the State's Emergency Operations Plan and all accompanying annexes, appendices, and standard operation procedures are kept current. Additionally, these plans and procedures are to be developed in coordination with similar plans and procedures developed by the federal government. In order to accomplish these tasks, all state agencies shall assist in the development, preparation, and revision of the portions of these plans and procedures that relate to each individual agency's mission, responsibility, and capability.

12. Upon the request of the Director of the IDHS, all state agencies shall participate, to the fullest extent possible, in emergency management training programs, as well as in exercises of the comprehensive emergency management system, or portions thereof.

13. Each state agency shall develop, and keep current, a continuity of operations plan to ensure that its essential functions are performed during any emergency or situation that may disrupt normal operation. This plan shall be developed and maintained consistent with the guidelines of, and in cooperation with, the IDHS, and shall be submitted to the IDHS and the Governor. Each agency emergency management coordinator shall participate in plan reviews, training and exercises organized by the IDHS, and shall conduct internal training and exercises of appropriate agency employees to ensure that the plan can be implemented with little or no notice.

14. The United States Department of Homeland Security has adopted a National Incident Management System that establishes standardized incident management processes, protocols, and procedures that all responders – Federal, state, tribal, and local – will use to coordinate and conduct response actions. Said National Incident Management System shall be continued as the state standard for incident management.

15. In order to assist the IDHS in carrying out its responsibilities, the following state agencies shall immediately designate one or more senior officials to act as the agency's emergency management coordinator for all emergency and disaster matters, and shall submit the name of the coordinator to the Director of the IDHS:

16. All state agencies, departments, commissions, bureaus, institutions, and other authorities in state government shall cooperate to the fullest extent possible with this Executive Order.

SEAL

ATTEST: Connie Lawson

Secretary of State