WHEREAS, state disaster planning is founded on the principle of self-help at every level of government, including its citizens;

WHEREAS, the health and safety of Idaho citizens are of primary importance;

WHEREAS, education and general awareness are at the core of any preparedness and prevention program; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the State of Idaho to strategically prepare its citizens and local communities within the budgetary and legal constrains imposed by the Legislature to respond to and recover from the debilitating impact of both natural and man-caused disasters including hazardous material spills, severe weather, flooding, forest and range fires, earthquakes, acts of terrorism and the use of weapons of mass destruction;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Governor of the State of Idaho, by the authority vested in me under the constitution and the laws of this state hereby establish the Idaho Citizen Corps Council.

It shall be the mission of the State of Idaho Citizen Corps Council to promote disaster preparedness education and training for all Idaho citizens, to support safety and disaster-related volunteer agencies and programs, and to encourage the formation of local Citizen Corps Councils through guidance, information and shared resources to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues and disasters of all kinds.

The council’s responsibilities shall be:

• To provide opportunities for county, regional, and Citizen Corps Councils to collaborate and exchange information in order to accomplish the shared goals of the Citizen Corps program;
• To provide leadership through the development of standards, provision of technical assistance, monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the progress of the local councils;
• To promote cooperation among state, tribal, and local public safety agencies in addressing statewide community/citizen preparedness needs in Idaho; and
• To research the best practices of other states.

The Citizen Corps Council shall be comprised of representatives of any of the following statewide agencies and organizations:

• Elected officials and tribal government leaders;

• Emergency mangers and first responders;

• Volunteer groups;

• Community service groups;

• Faith based groups;

• Business owners; and

• Other representatives from other organizations that provide services that support the Citizen Corps mission.

Nothing in this Executive Order changes practices established by existing laws or previously established Executive orders concerning preparedness for natural or man-caused disasters. Rather, this Executive Order establishes a central body to foster collaboration to promote preparedness-related education and training throughout the State of Idaho. This provides an avenue for input and information sharing for the purpose of improving the ability of the citizens of Idaho to be better prepared to respond to threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kinds.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this 23^rd day of June in the year of our Lord two thousand and five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred twenty-ninth and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred fifteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE