The Missouri
Office of Homeland Security was established on September 26, 2001.
Missouri was the first state in the nation to create an Office of
Homeland Security in response to the disaster of September 11, 2001.
On
July 21, 2005 Governor Matt Blunt signed Executive
Order 05-20 effectively moving the Missouri Office of Homeland
Security under the Missouri Department of Public Safety. Placing the
office under this Department has allowed for better coordination between
the Public Safety agencies that do much of the daily work that makes
up Homeland Security, such as the State Emergency Management Agency
and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
In the same
executive order, Governor Blunt established the Homeland Security
Advisory Council to review state and local security plans and grant
funding requests and make recommendations for changes to better
protect Missourians. Governor Blunt designed the Homeland Security
Advisory Council to be comprised of the Director of the Department
of Public Safety and relevant Public Safety Division Directors,
but equally as important, Directors of other state departments.
This ensures a statewide focus for homeland security and an effective
means for coordination of resources.
By Executive
Order 06-09, dated February 10, 2006, Governor Blunt made permanent
the Homeland Security Advisory Council. It also recognizes the position
for a Homeland Security Coordinator, who works at the direction
of the Director of the Department of Public Safety. The order also
added the Director of the Department of Mental Health.
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