An Order Establishing the State of Maine Emergency Response and Disaster Assistance Teams

October 20, 2005

08 FY 06/07

WHEREAS, prevention of damage, injury, and loss of life or property, and providing assistance to individuals and businesses after events that cause these losses is among the highest priorities of state government; and

WHEREAS, several state agencies share responsibility for state emergency preparedness, response and recovery; and

WHEREAS, the State of Maine, pursuant to 37B MRSA, Chapter 13, 15, and 19, is required to have emergency preparedness plans for all potential hazards, natural and man-made, and to plan for and coordinate assistance operations after disasters; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to 37B MRSA, Chapter 13, the Maine Emergency Management Agency is charged with the responsibility of preparing and keeping a comprehensive State Emergency Preparedness Plan; and

WHEREAS, the State Emergency Preparedness Plan describes the responsibilities and participation of appropriate state agencies:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, John Elias Baldacci, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby establish the State Emergency Response and the State Disaster Assistance Teams.

1. State Emergency Response Team

Purpose:

The State Emergency Response Team is charged with: 1) assisting with the preparation of a comprehensive State Emergency Preparedness Plan; 2) responding to area or statewide emergencies by reporting to the State Emergency Operations Center in order to coordinate the efforts of state agencies; and 3) assisting in appropriate response efforts.

Membership:

The State Emergency Response Team will consist of a Representative from the Governor’s Office, the Commissioner of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management or designees, the Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency or designees, the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation or designee, the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety or designees, the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection or designee, the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture or designee, the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation or designee, the Commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or designee, the Commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources or designee, the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services or designees, the Commissioner of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services or designee, the Commissioner of the Department of Labor or designee, the Executive Director of the Maine Turnpike Authority or designee, the Chair of the Public Utilities Commission or designee, and the American Red Cross Maine Preparedness Director or designee. The chair of the State Emergency Response Team will be the Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency or designee.

Duties

All designees will be appointed by their respective commissioners or appointing authority in writing to the Chair no later than November 15, 2005.

As requested by the Chair, each member of the team will:

1. Provide assistance and information to prepare or update portions of the State Emergency Preparedness Plan applicable to that team member’s agency;
2. Participate in tests of the State Emergency Preparedness Plan;
3. Respond, in the event of a disaster, to the State Emergency Operations Center or other location; and
4. Assist in coordinating the response of state agencies in the event of a disaster.

The Chair, with the approval of the Governor, may appoint ad hoc members of the State Emergency Response Team depending on the type of emergency.

1. State Disaster Assistance Team

Purpose

The State Disaster Assistance Team is charged with: 1) assisting with the development of procedures to implement this Order; 2) responding, in the event of a disaster, to the State Emergency Operations Center or other location; and 3) coordinating the efforts of state agencies to provide disaster assistance to individuals and businesses.

Membership

The State Disaster Assistance Team will consist of the a Representative of the Governor’s Office, Commissioner of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management or designee, the Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency or designee, the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services or designee, the Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development or designee, the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture or designee, the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation or designee, the Commissioner of the Department of Labor or designee, the Director of the State Planning Office or designee, the Director of the Maine State Housing Authority or designee, the Superintendent of the Bureau of Insurance or designee, the Chief Executive Officer of the Finance Authority of Maine or designee, the Supervisor of the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office or designee, a representative of the Small Business Administration, a representative of Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster, and the American Red Cross Maine Preparedness Director or designee. The chair of the State Disaster Assistance Team will be the Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency or designee.

Duties

All members of the State Disaster Assistance Team will be designated in writing to the chair no later than November 15, 2005.

As requested by the chair, each member of the team will:

1. Assist in preparing procedures to implement this Order applicable to the team member’s agency;
2. Participate in drills to test the team’s readiness to respond to a disaster; and
3. Respond at the call of the chair as emergency conditions dictate.

The chair, with the approval of the Governor, may appoint ad hoc members to the State Disaster Assistance Team depending on the type of emergency.

Implementation and Staffing

The Maine Emergency Management Agency will provide and maintain the necessary administrative and technical staff to carry out this order. All necessary expenditures incurred by the members while in performance of their duties on the State Emergency Response Team and the State Disaster Assistance Team which are authorized by Maine law and current union contracts will be borne by their affiliated agencies.

Effective Date

The effective date of this order is October 20, 2005. This Executive Order supersedes Executive Order No. 04 FY 99/00.