WHEREAS, the 2019 Vermont State Emergency Management Plan (SEMP) provides the framework for the State's emergency management enterprise across the five mission areas identified in the National Preparedness Goal: Prevention, Protection, Response, Mitigation, and Recovery; and

WHEREAS, the SEMP provides the mechanism for the notification, coordination, and deployment of state and federal resources, if necessary, to assist local jurisdictions in responding to, mitigating against, and recovering from disasters, regardless of cause; and

WHEREAS, the SEMP is formulated to utilize all available federal, state, private sector, and volunteer and non-governmental agency resources in responding to or supporting the response to a disaster; and

WHEREAS, the 2019 SEMP replaces the 2013 State Emergency Operations Plan and builds on lessons learned and best practices during disaster responses, exercises, and workshops; and

WHEREAS, the Plan further includes a focus on ensuring that components are streamlined and more operational and integrates the revised National Incident Management System (NIMS) doctrine released in October 2017; and

WHEREAS, State Agencies and Departments, private sector entities, and volunteer and non-governmental organizations described in the plan partner and participate in prevention, protection, response, mitigation, and/or recovery activities and as part of the plan have an obligation to provide services and support that save lives and protect property and the environment during a disaster.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Philip B. Scott, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor pursuant to 20 V.S.A. § 8, do hereby promulgate the 2019 Vermont State Emergency Management Plan.

I further order and direct all State Agency Secretaries and Department Commissioners with defined roles and responsibilities in the State Emergency Management Plan to develop and maintain procedures to ensure emergency preparedness and the capacity to provide response, mitigation and recovery support to the people of Vermont.

Assignments within the Plan are based on functional capabilities and statutory responsibilities of each partner. To make the Plan viable, participants must be prepared to execute their assignments when called upon during an emergency and sustain that effort during the subsequent recovery.

Each identified State Agency and Department shall fulfill or execute its respective responsibilities outlined in this Plan.

Each identified State Agency and Department shall provide a minimum of three trained and qualified representatives to act in coordination with the Vermont Emergency Management Division (VEM) and the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in the delivery of their respective services throughout all of the mission areas.

This Plan shall be in effect as of January 1, 2019 and remain in effect through December 31, 2023. Subject to the approval of the Governor, the Plan may be amended by the Director of the Vermont Emergency Management Division.

Dated: January 4, 2019