WHEREAS, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf of Mexico costal areas on August 29, 2005, severely damaging portions of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi and displacing hundreds of thousands of people; and

WHEREAS, the individuals and families displaced by Hurricane Katrina are in immediate need of shelter and care; and  
 
WHEREAS, federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency ("FEMA"), have requested the State of Minnesota to assist in providing emergency services and support to the affected areas, including assistance in providing for the care and shelter of evacuees; and

WHEREAS, in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and requests from federal agencies, the Governor declared a state of emergency (Executive Order 05-10), activated the State Emergency Operations Center, directed the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to implement the State Emergency Operation Plan and designated Alan Bataglia, Director of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management as the Governor's authorized representative for coordination of emergency operations in Minnesota (Executive Order 05-11); and

WHEREAS, the Governor has also activated members of the Minnesota National Guard to provide personnel, facilities and equipment to support Minnesota's emergency operations and to support the relocation and housing of individuals and families arriving in Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, the magnitude of the emergency conditions, the need for Minnesota to assist in the support and sheltering of evacuees and the need to assess and respond to the ongoing needs of evacuees will continue for more than 5 days and it is, therefore, necessary for the Executive Council to extend the state of emergency pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes 2004, Section 12.31, Subdivision 2.

RESOLVED, by the Executive Council of the State of Minnesota, at its meeting on September 7, 2005, that it extends the state of emergency for 30 days pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 2004, Section 12.31, subdivision 2.