Emergency Officials Assess Flood Threat, Governor Signs Order to Assist in Response and Recovery
April 2, 2015
For Immediate Release: Thursday, April 02, 2015
Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary, 207-287-2531
AUGUSTA – While there is potential for serious flooding with some of the State's snowpack yet to melt, Governor Paul R. LePage says Maine’s emergency management officials and resources are ready to respond, if needed.
Governor LePage met with the River Flow Advisory Commission (RFAC) on Thursday morning at the Maine Emergency Management Agency in Augusta to get information about the flood risk. The RFAC includes the US Geological Survey, Maine Geological Survey and the National Weather Service. State, county and local emergency managers and the State Emergency Response Team were also involved.
“In the event of serious flooding, Maine’s emergency management team of state, county and local personnel and resources is well-prepared. We can't control Mother Nature, but we will do all we can to protect life and property," Governor LePage said.
While forecasts are still being developed, minor to moderate flooding on rivers such as the Kennebec appears possible; ice jam flooding potential is a concern in central regions and in the north; and small river and stream flooding is possible in all areas. Those in flood-prone areas should monitor local conditions and weather forecasts closely over the next 48 hours.
In preparation for flooding and any response and recovery efforts that may result, Governor LePage signed an Executive Order on Thursday updating the State of Maine emergency response and disaster recovery teams.
“When the State is responding to a major emergency, coordination among all the departments is critical,” said Governor LePage. “This order ensures all proper procedures and people are in place to deal with all aspects of a disaster – preparedness, response and recovery.”
The Executive Order language is as follows:
2015-004
April 2, 2015
AN ORDER UPDATING THE STATE OF MAINE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND DISASTER RECOVERY TEAMS
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 the state government;
WHEREAS, several state agencies share responsibility for state emergency preparedness, response, and recovery;
WHEREAS, the State of Maine, pursuant to 37B MRSA, Chapters 13, 15, and 19, is required to have emergency preparedness plans for all potential hazards—natural, technological, and human-caused—and to plan for and coordinate assistance operations after disasters;
WHEREAS, the Maine Emergency Management Agency, pursuant to 37B MSRA, Chapter 13, is charged with the responsibility of preparing and maintaining the State of Maine Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP); and
WHEREAS, the CEMP describes the responsibilities and participation of appropriate state agencies;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Paul R. LePage, Governor of the State of Maine, hereby order as follows:
PART A
1. The State Emergency Response Team (ERT) is hereby established. 2. The ERT is organized into fifteen (15) Emergency Support Functions and serves the following purposes:
a. Assists with the preparation of the State Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), a part of the CEMP;
b. Responds to area or statewide emergencies by reporting to the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate the efforts of State agencies and other ad hoc organizations; and
c. Assists in appropriate response efforts.
3. The membership of the ERT shall include sixteen (16) persons as follows:
a. Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency, as Chair;
b. Commissioner of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services;
c. Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry;
d. Commissioner of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management;
e. Commissioner of the Department of Education;
f. Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection;
g. Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services; h. Commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife;
i. Commissioner of the Department of Labor;
j. Commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources;
k. Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety;
l. Commissioner of the Department of Transportation;
m. Executive Director of the Maine Turnpike Authority;
n. Chair of the Public Utilities Commission;
o. Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross in Maine; and
p. Representative of the Governor’s Office.
4. The members of the ERT may assign their duties under this Order to a designee by informing the Chair in writing. The Chair may appoint ad hoc members to the ERT including non-State agencies such as in-state representatives of Federal agencies, non-governmental community organizations, and private sector organizations, as necessary.
5. The duties of each member of the ERT, at the request of the Chair, are as follows:
a. Provide assistance and information to prepare or update portions of the State EOP and other implementing instructions applicable to that team member’s agency;
b. Participate in training to prepare for emergency response operations;
c. Participate in exercises to test the State EOP and the team’s readiness to assist in the response to a disaster;
d. Respond, in the event of a disaster, to the State EOC or other location;
e. Assist in coordinating the response of State agencies in the event of a disaster or other emergency; and
f. Implement other responsibilities outlined in the State EOP.
PART B
1. The State Disaster Recovery Team (DRT) is hereby established.
2. The DRT is organized into seven (7) Recovery Support Functions and serves the following purposes:
a. Assists with the preparation of the State Interagency Disaster Recovery Plan (IDRP), a part of the CEMP;
b. Responds to area or statewide emergencies by reporting to the State EOC or other location to coordinate the recovery efforts of State agencies; and
c. Assists in appropriate short, mid, and long-term recovery efforts.
-
The membership of the DRT shall include twenty-five (25) persons as follows:
a. Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency;
b. Commissioner of the Department of Administration and Financial Services;
c. Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry;
d. Commissioner of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management;
e. Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development;
f. Commissioner of the Department of Education;
g. Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection;
h. Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services;
i. Commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife;
j. Commissioner of the Department of Labor;
k. Commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources;
l. Commissioner of the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation;
m. Commissioner of the Department of Transportation;
n. Director of the Governor's Office of Energy Independence and Security; o. Chief Executive Officer of the Finance Authority of Maine;
p. Director of the Maine State Housing Authority;
q. Executive Director of the Maine Turnpike Authority;
r. Executive Director of the Maine Commission for Community Service;
s. Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General;
t. Director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission;
u. Chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission;
v. State Archivist of the Maine State Archives;
w. State Librarian of the Maine State Library;
x. Director of the Maine State Museum; and
y. Representative of the Governor’s Office.
-
The Chair of the DRT shall be the Director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency. The Governor may, at his discretion, designate an independent Chair for major disasters to oversee long term recovery initiatives beyond the capabilities of MEMA to manage.
-
The members of the DRT may assign their duties under this Order to a designee by informing the Chair in writing. The Chair may appoint ad hoc members to the DRT including non-State agencies such as in-state representatives of Federal agencies, non-governmental community organizations, and private sector organizations, as necessary.
- The duties of each member of the DRT, at the request of the Chair, are as follows:
a. Provide assistance and information to prepare or update portions of the State IDRP and other implementing instructions applicable to that team member’s agency;
b. Participate in training to prepare for disaster recovery operations;
c. Participate in exercises to test the State IDRP and the team’s readiness to assist in the recovery from a disaster;
d. Respond to emergency conditions and events as necessary, and to the State EOC when requested;
e. Assist in coordinating recovery operations of State agencies and other ad hoc members in the event of a disaster or other emergency; and
f. Implement other responsibilities outlined in the State IDRP. PART C
- The Maine Emergency Management Agency shall 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 ERT or the DRT as authorized by Maine law and current employee contracts shall be borne by their respective agencies.
- This Executive Order supersedes Executive Order No. 22 FY 11/12.
The effective date of this Executive Order is April 2, 2015.
Paul R. LePage, Governor