September 21, 2009
In address to responders from community and religious organizations, Gov. Nixon announces renewed collaborative, public-private effort to enhance response
Gov. Nixon issues executive order creating partnership for faith-based and community efforts on disaster recovery
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Gov. Jay Nixon announced today the issuance of an executive order creating the Governor's Faith-Based and Community Service Partnership for Disaster Recovery. The Partnership includes 16 state agencies, 2 federal agencies and 16 private, religious or charitable organizations tasked with working cooperatively to improve services provided to Missourians in the wake of a natural disaster or terrorist attack.
Executive Order 09-25 creates the Partnership and charges it with serving as the coordinating organization, in concert with the State Emergency Management Agency, for emergency human service functions following a disaster. Gov. Nixon's order also calls on the Partnership to improve human services disaster response and recovery delivery methods with a goal of increasing service to Missourians while maximizing the efficient use of public and private resources.
"Faith-based and community volunteerism plays a critical role in our state's response to natural disasters. After storms ravaged communities here in January and May, I witnessed volunteers from religious and community groups helping feed, clothe and shelter their fellow Missourians," Gov. Nixon said. "With this executive order, we further strengthen the mission and expand the membership of a working partnership between faith-based organizations and state agencies that has already provided comfort and relief to thousands of Missouri citizens."
Gov. Nixon announced the issuance of Executive Order 09-25 while addressing a regional conference of faith-based organizations engaged in disaster response and recovery. Several dozen representatives of churches and other religious and community groups gathered at the Salvation Army in Cape Girardeau on Monday to participate in seminars and roundtable discussions on emergency planning, providing shelter in disasters, feeding operations, long term recovery and other response efforts.
The executive order directs the Partnership to include among its members representatives from the state departments of Agriculture, Conservation, Economic Development, Elementary and Secondary Education, Health and Senior Services, Higher Education, Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration, Labor and Industrial Relations, Mental Health, Natural Resources, Public Safety and Social Services, as well as the Office of Administration, SEMA, Missouri Housing Development Commission and University of Missouri Extension.
The American Red Cross, Missouri Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (MOVOAD), The Salvation Army, Missouri Catholic Conference, Missouri Baptist Convention, Lutheran Disaster Services, Missouri United Methodist Conference, Church World Service, Missouri Interfaith Disaster Response Organization, AmeriCorps - St. Louis, United Ways of Missouri, Missouri Association of Community Action, Missouri Legal Services, Missouri Police Chiefs Association, Missouri Sheriffs Association, Missouri Emergency Preparedness Association, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and United States Department of Agriculture are the federal agencies and private organization explicitly named in the order as members of the Partnership. Through the order, Gov. Nixon instructed current partners to invite a wide range of other private organizations to join the Partnership.
The Partnership will be co-chaired by one representative of the public-sector groups appointed by the governor and one representative of the private-sector members elected by those members. The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) will provide staff support to the Partnership.