Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty signed an executive order yesterday that provides direction to state agencies regarding emergency planning and emergency management. The order, which updates and replaces executive order 07-14, assigns responsibilities to agencies based on the Minnesota Emergency Operations Plan and the State All-Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The following is the text of the Governor’s executive order:

EXECUTIVE ORDER 10-06

ASSIGNING EMERGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES
TO STATE AGENCIES;
RESCINDING EXECUTIVE ORDER 07-14

I, TIM PAWLENTY, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the applicable statutes, including Minnesota Statutes 2009, Chapter 12, do hereby issue this Executive Order:

WHEREAS, natural and technological disasters and emergencies have and may occur in any part of the state; and

WHEREAS, national and international events, such as conflict or threats of terrorism can increase the need for emergency preparedness within the state; and

WHEREAS, state agencies may be called upon to respond to and/or assist in the recovery from the effects of these emergency situations and disasters;

NOW, THEREFORE, I hereby order that:

1. Each department and independent state agency included in this Executive Order shall designate a member of its staff as its emergency preparedness response contact/coordinator (EPRC/C). Such individual shall serve as the point of contact for the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and other state agencies with regard to emergency preparedness and response issues, and shall represent that agency on the Minnesota Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee (EPRC).

2. Each department, independent division, bureau, board, commission and independent institution of the State government, hereinafter referred to as "agency," shall carry out the general emergency preparedness, planning, response, recovery, hazard mitigation continuity of operations and service continuation responsibilities described in this Executive Order, the specific emergency assignments contained in the Minnesota Emergency Operations Plan, the State All-Hazard Mitigation Plan and such other duties as may be requested by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The head of each agency shall be accountable for the execution of the responsibilities described in this Executive Order.

I. Emergency Preparedness/Planning

A. The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management shall have overall responsibility for coordinating the development and maintenance of the all-hazard Minnesota Emergency Operations Plan.

B. Each state agency shall develop and update, as necessary, its own emergency plan/procedures, each agency emergency operations plan/procedures must provide for:

1. execution of the emergency responsibilities that are assigned to the agency in this Executive Order, and are elaborated upon in the Minnesota Emergency Operations Plan;

2. pre-delegation of emergency authority;

3. emergency action steps or procedures; and

4. commitment of resources for the development and maintenance of an agency’s all-hazard emergency operations plan.

C. Each state agency shall develop and update, as necessary, its own service continuation plan. Minnesota Management and Budget shall manage the state’s service continuation program, to include any event that may impact critical government services as it relates to human capital. Each agency’s service continuation plan must provide for:

1. prioritizing the agency’s service functions, using the state defined priority service functions levels one through four; and

2. commitment of resources for the development and maintenance of an agency’s service continuity plan.

D. The Office of Enterprise Technology (OET) has primary responsibility for the state’s enterprise business continuity program.

1. prioritizing the agency’s service functions, using the state defined priority service functions levels one through four; and

2. commitment of resources for the development and maintenance of an agency’s service continuity plan.

II. Emergency Response

A. All state agencies responding to a disaster or emergency shall use the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System. In the event of a disaster or emergency requiring a multiple state agency response, a unified command structure shall be established. If, due to the nature of an incident, a single state agency has a larger/primary role in the response to that incident, that agency may be referred to as the "lead agency." The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management shall have the coordinating role in a multiple state agency response to a disaster or emergency. All state agencies shall support this coordinated multi-agency response and carry out their specific assignments, as described in the Minnesota Emergency Operations Plan.

B. All state agencies shall be responsible for assigning necessary personnel to report to the state, regional and/or on-site emergency operations center(s) and information hotline, if such are activated, in accordance with the Minnesota Emergency Operations Plan when directed by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The responding personnel shall be prepared to direct the activities of their agency's response personnel, and shall carry out the emergency responsibilities assigned to their agency in this Executive Order and elaborated upon in the Minnesota Emergency Operations Plan.

C. State agency personnel responding to a disaster or emergency shall be familiar with the emergency management role as taught by the Minnesota Emergency Management Certification Program and FEMA Independent Study curriculum.

D. State agencies shall, when requested by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, provide necessary personnel to participate in Rapid Needs Assessment teams.

III. Recovery/Hazard Mitigation

A. Each state agency that has a role in emergency management shall participate in the development of hazard mitigation strategies to reduce or eliminate the vulnerability of life and property to the effects of emergencies and disasters.

B. Following a presidential declaration of a major disaster, state agencies shall be responsible for carrying out the hazard mitigation responsibility assignments contained in this Executive Order and elaborated upon in the State All-Hazard Mitigation Plan.

C. State agencies shall, when requested by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, provide appropriate personnel to assist with the damage assessment activities associated with the Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation programs. They shall also provide personnel to serve on an Interagency Hazard Mitigation Team or Hazard Mitigation Survey Team, when requested.

D. State agencies shall, when requested by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, provide appropriate personnel to serve on the Minnesota Recovers Task Force, and be prepared to commit and combine resources toward the long-term recovery/mitigation effort.

E. State agencies shall, when requested by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, provide necessary personnel to staff the Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) that are established, following a presidential declaration of a major disaster.

3. Executive Order 07-14 is rescinded.

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 2009, section 4.035, subdivision 2, this Executive Order will be effective fifteen (15) days after publication in the State Register and filing with the Secretary of State and will remain in effect, in accordance with Minnesota Statutes 2009, section 4.035, subdivision 3.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have set my hand this 26th day of April, 2010.