WHEREAS, emergency or disaster conditions resulting from fire, explosion, flood, wind-driven water, storm, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, or other catastrophes are an ever-present danger in this State; and

WHEREAS, the harmful effects of such conditions to the citizens of Alaska can be mitigated by effective disaster preparedness planning and rapid, competent disaster response; and

WHEREAS, it is the duty of all State officials to assume active leadership in disaster preparedness and response;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAY S. HAMMOND, Governor of the State of Alaska by virtue of the authority vested in me by Sections 23 and 24, Article III, Constitution of the State of Alaska, do hereby assign to the Alaska Disaster Office, Department of Military Affairs, the responsibility for coordination of the activities of the principal offices and departments of the State in carrying out the functions under the Alaska Statutes, Title 44, Part 2, appropriate to disaster preparation and response.

a. Disaster Preparedness Planning. The overall disaster response planning effort is the responsibility of and will be coordinated by the Alaska Disaster Office. Each office and department will contribute to the pre-disaster planning effort in the functional area or areas for which they can be expected to perform in response to disaster emergencies. Disaster response functional statements which are basic to the planning effort will be developed by the appropriate State department or agency in consort with the Alaska Disaster Office.

b. Disaster Response. State agencies and activities committed to or engaged in disaster response functions will:

(1) undertake those actions necessary and appropriate for disaster response.

(2) remain in communication with, and coordinate emergency activities with the Director, Alaska Disaster Office.

(3) coordinate with participating counterpart local, federal, and other agencies.

(4) provide qualified personnel to serve as members of teams to be dispatched to the scene of a disaster when skills peculiar to the agency are needed for emergency relief, damage assessment and survey, and other appropriate response and recovery functions.

(5) be responsible for travel, per diem, and overtime costs of their representatives, subject to possible reimbursement from the disaster relief or other State funds.

(6) insure that all public information concerning disaster response actions is coordinated with, or released by the Governor's office.

c. Definition. As used in this Order, an emergency or disaster condition means those circumstances threatened or caused by an hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, drought, fire, explosion, or other catastrophe in any part of the State, other than war caused, which has or, unless immediately arrested, will cause serious damage, casualties, or other harmful effects to the citizens of Alaska, their belongings, society, environment, or economy.

This order takes effect immediately.

Dated at Juneau, Alaska, this 1 day of September, 1976.

S/S Jay S. Hammond
Jay S. Hammond  
Governor of Alaska