Executive Order  No. 144: Revoking and superseding Executive Order No. 25

WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to preserve the health and welfare of its citizens in the event of emergencies or disasters by insuring the effective deployment of services and resources; and

WHEREAS, such emergencies or disasters may result from enemy attack or by riot or other civil disturbances, or from earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires, and other natural causes; and

WHEREAS, the experience of recent years suggests the inevitability of natural disasters and the increasing capability of potential enemies of the United States to attack this Commonwealth and the United States in greater and ever-growing force; and

WHEREAS, the effects of such emergencies or disasters may be mitigated by effective planning and operations:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Michael S. Dukakis, Governor of the Commonwealth, acting under the provisions of the Acts of 1950, Chapter 639, and in particular, Sections 4, 8, 16 and 20 thereof, as amended, and all other authority conferred upon me by law, do hereby issue this Order as a necessary preparatory step in advance of actual disaster or catastrophe and as part of the comprehensive plan and program for the Civil Defense of the Commonwealth.

1. The Secretary of Public Safety, through the State Civil Defense Director, shall act as State Coordinating Officer in the event of emergencies and natural disasters and shall be responsible for the coordination for all activities undertaken by the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions in response to the threat or occurrence of emergencies or natural disasters.
2. This coordination shall be carried out through and with the assistance of the Massachusetts Civil Defense Agency and Office of Emergency Preparedness, as provided under the Acts of 1950, Chapter 639, as amended.
3. Each secretariat, independent division, board, commission and authority of the Government of the Common- wealth (hereinafter referred to as agencies) shall make appropriate plans for the protection of its personnel, equipment and supplies (including records and documents) against the effects of enemy attack or natural disaster, and for maintaining or providing services appropriate to the agency which maybe required on an emergency basis. Each agency shall make appropriate plans for carrying out such emergency responsibilities as may be assigned in this Order or by subsequent Order of the Governor and for rendering such additional emergency assistance as the Secretary of Public Safety and the Civil Defense Agency and Office of Emergency Preparedness may require.
4. The responsibility for such planning shall rest with the head of each agency, provided that such agency head may designate a competent person in the service of the agency to be and act as the Emergency Planning Officer of the Agency. It shall be the function of said Emergency Planning Officer to supervise and coordinate such planning by the agency, subject to the direction and control of the head of the agency, and in cooperation with the Secretary of Public Safety and the State Civil Defense Agency and Office of Emergency Preparedness.
5. Each agency designated as an Emergency Response Agency by the Director of Civil Defense shall assign a minimum of two persons to act as liaison officers between such agency and the Civil Defense Agency and Office of Emergency Preparedness for the purpose of coordinating resources, training, and operations within such agency. To the extent that training and operational requirements dictate, the liaison officer shall be under the direction and authority of the State Civil Defense Director for such periods as may be required.
6. A Comprehensive Emergency Response Plan for the Commonwealth shall be promulgated and issued and shall constitute official guidance for operations for all agencies and political subdivisions of the Commonwealth in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 27th day of September in the Year of Our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-eight, and of the independence of the United States, the two hundredth and third.

MICHAEL S. DUKAKIS

Governor

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

PAUL GUZZI

Secretary of the Commonwealth