Executive Order Number 04-12 (PDF, 28 KB)
WHEREAS, emergency response to critical incidents, whether natural hazards like tornadoes and floods, or manmade disasters like accidents or acts of terrorism, requires a coordinated response and professional management, and;
WHEREAS, Unified Command is the optimal emergency management model to provide the best possible response to a disaster, utilizing the expertise of all of the appropriate public safety disciplines, and;
WHEREAS, the National Incident Management System (“ NIMS”), has been identified by Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5 (“ HSPD-5”) as being the requisite emergency management system for all levels of government and all political subdivisions in the United States, and;
WHEREAS, all political subdivisions must be in compliance with NIMS as prescribed in HSPD-5 on or before October 1, 2005, and;
WHEREAS, failure to adopt NIMS may preclude federal reimbursement for costs incurred during and after a declared emergency or disaster or for training for such emergencies or disasters, and for Homeland Security funding.
THEREFORE, I hereby direct the following:
I. All state agencies shall adopt NIMS as their model for emergency planning, Unified Command and response to emergencies and disasters.
II. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency will direct state responses to emergencies and disasters under NIMS through 1) institutionalization of NIMS in state and local emergency operations plans; 2) utilizing NIMS in training and exercises, as well as actual emergency and disaster responses; and 3) delivering a report to the Office of the Governor demonstrating the status of NIMS compliance by all Illinois state agencies directly under the control of the Governor and all 102 county emergency management agencies on or before October 1, 2005.
III. SAVINGS CLAUSE
Nothing in this Executive Order shall be construed to contravene any state or federal law.
IV. SEVERABILITY
If any provision of this Executive Order or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, this invalidity does not affect any other provision or application of this Executive Order which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. To achieve this purpose, the provisions of this Executive Order are declared to be severable.
V. EFFECTIVE DATE
This Executive Order shall be in full force and effect upon its filing with the Secretary of State.
Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor
Issued by Governor: __________, 2004
Filed with Secretary of State: __________, 2004