As of September 11, 2017, the President of the United States had signed a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Florida and Emergency Declarations for the States of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, the United States Territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Governor of the State of North Carolina declared a State of Emergency, all as a result of extremely high winds, excessive rain and flooding from Hurricane Irma and related storms, and the devastating impacts and widespread damage which was anticipated and which in fact occurred. The States, Territories and Tribes affected by Hurricane Irma are responding to property damage and the human toll taken by the storm.

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Vermont and Commander-in-Chief, Vermont National Guard, by the Constitution of the State of Vermont, Chapter II, Section 20, and by Title 20, Chapter 4 of Vermont Statutes Annotated, and pursuant to requests from the Governors of affected States and Territories in accordance with the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, I hereby authorize and direct the Adjutant General to call into Active State Service, for the purpose of assisting and supporting the requesting States and Territories in their efforts to respond to the conditions created or caused by Hurricane Irma and associated storms in order to alleviate hardship and suffering of citizens and communities and in order to preserve the lives and property of the requesting States and Territories, any and all units of the National Guard of the State of Vermont as he may deem appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Order, to serve for an indefinite period and until relieved by proper authority.

This Order shall take effect upon signing and shall amend and restate Executive Order 16-17 originally issued September 8, 2017, and ratify all deployments made since the original issuance of this Executive Order.

Dated September 13, 2017.