Laserfiche WebLink
agencies concerned with drought problem areas have been identified as <br /> follows: Department of Local Affairs municipal water, and tourism and <br /> commerce problems; Department of Natural Resources - water shortage and <br /> wildlife problems; Department of Agriculture - agricultural problems; <br /> State Forester - Wildfire protection problems; Office of Planning and <br /> Budgeting - economic problems. As other response needs become apparent <br /> additional lead agencies will be established, e.g. should hydro-electric <br /> power generation be affected by low reservoir levels or should health <br /> problems from intense heat develop, the Public Utility <br /> Commission and the Department of Health will be appointed as lead <br /> agencies. <br /> This response system is based upon the existing statutory authority <br /> of State government agencies, and it is distinguished from "assessments" <br /> which can be generated through a variety of means and sources. Thus, <br /> the response system within any department is monitored and controlled <br /> by the departmental drought coordinator and senior level departmental <br /> management. The system within State government is coordinated through <br /> "lead agencies" - for example, at this stage of drought response, lead <br /> departments are responsible for making news releases concerning depart- <br /> mental programs. Authority for releases covering overall status and <br /> direction of drought response will be retained by the Director of the <br /> Division of Disaster Emergency Services. <br /> Later, if drought conditions worsen, if agencies become overburdened and <br /> if emergency conditions threaten, an Inter Agency Coordinating Group <br /> ( IACG) will be activated by proclamation of the Governor, The IACG will <br /> be comprised of senior level managers of involved State departments <br /> (Drought Coordinators or represnatives of lead agencies) , The IACG will <br /> act in concert with or through a department(s) and will : review unmet <br /> needs identified by task forces and lead agencies, identify and recommend <br /> means to meet those needs, ensure inter-agency coordination and determine <br /> when its own deactivation should occur. <br /> Occasionally this response system may require limited expansion beyond <br /> the normal processes of government. Should a given problem, or set of <br /> problems, become unusually complicated and extensive, departments may <br /> require additional support. This may be necessary when continuous <br /> flow of information or continuous availability for handling public <br /> inquiries requires that a full-time position be activated, along with <br /> a publicly announced telephone (800) number. The person(s) occupying <br /> this position would respond for departments, to answer public queries <br /> and refer requests to responsible officials. Similarly, if either a <br /> geographic area or political subdivision of the State develops a need <br /> for day-to-day coordination between a variety of programs, then a <br /> State field representative may be designated as State liaison to local <br /> government. In this situation the field representative will respond to <br /> guidance and control by the IACG. The IACG will be responsible to <br /> recommend to the Governor the establishment of positions for additional <br /> departmental staff or field representatives. <br /> In general , assessments will be produced continually through a drought <br /> period, but responses will be generated when impacts and needs can be <br /> identified and evaluated. Specific activation conditions for both <br /> assessment and response systems are shown below. <br />