Vermont Emergency Management and Homeland Security Statutory Authorities Summarized

Publication Date: September 2004

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

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Abstract:

Vermont addresses emergencies and disasters through two statutes. The Civil Defense Act created the state Emergency Management Division, and gives the governor emergency powers, authorizes the rendering of mutual aid, and declares that all emergency management functions be coordinated with the federal government. The Internal Security and Public Safety Act provides for a declaration of a state of emergency and activation of an emergency disaster preparedness plan for the state and counties. Financial and other aid is provided by the state emergency relief and assistance fund, and through grants and loans from both federal and private sources. The governor is authorized to declare a state of emergency, and the state emergency board and local legislative boards may vote to terminate emergencies.

This report is one of a series that profiles emergency management and homeland security statutory authorities of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each profile identifies the more significant elements of state statutes, generally as codified. Congressional readers may wish to conduct further searches for related provisions using the Internet link presented in the last section of this report. The National Conference of State Legislatures provided primary research assistance in the development of these profiles under contract to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Summary information on all of the profiles is presented in CRS Report RL32287. This report will be updated as developments warrant.