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Threats & Emergencies  

Terrorism

Terrorism Home • Terrorism Basics • VDEM Terrorism Toolkit

VDEM Terrorism Toolkit

First Responders > Panels and Working Groups

Gov. Mark Warner has placed increased emphasis on emergency management in the Commonwealth with additional funding, the appointment of a special assistant on terrorism and new lines of authority. Here is a summary of current preparedness review, study and analysis activities, including ad hoc panels, task forces and state agencies:

Executive Order 7, The Secure Virginia Initiative

On January 31, 2002, Governor Mark R. Warner signed Executive Order 7 establishing the Secure Virginia Initiative, which directed state agencies to prepare or update emergency response plans and make their natural disaster or attack response plans available to the Panel to support its work in preparing a statewide plan. It also designated the Governor's Assistant for Commonwealth Preparedness as the single point of contact for the federal Office of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Public Safety as the single point of contact for federal law enforcement agencies regarding homeland security issues.

Secure Virginia Panel

This Panel serves as the broad policy analysis tool for the Commonwealth's overall efforts to improve preparedness, response and recovery capabilities for natural disasters and emergencies of all kinds, including terrorist attacks.

The Panel has been divided into nine sub-Panels and is supported by the members of the Commonwealth Preparedness Working Group (CPWG), a standing multi-agency cross Secretariat group of senior state agency officials. Click here for more information on the panel and its membership.

"The Panel shall review, evaluate and make recommendations relating to emergency preparedness of government at all levels within the Commonwealth. Additionally, the Panel shall facilitate cabinet level coordination among the various agencies of state government related to emergency preparedness and will facilitate private sector preparedness and communications." (Executive Order 7)

Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction ("The Gilmore Commission")

Organized in 1999, this Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Advisory Panel released its fifth and final report to the President and Congress on Dec. 15, 2003. The federal government has adopted some of its findings and recommendations for strengthening the nation's preparedness to respond to terrorist attacks. Former governor Jim Gilmore chaired the panel.

Gilmore Commission reports are available on the RAND Web site at www.rand.org/nsrd/terrpanel/.

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