Global Disaster Information Network

Executive Order 13151 of April 27, 2000

Global Disaster Information Network

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, and in order to establish a Global Disaster
Information Network to use information technology more
effectively to reduce loss of life and property from
natural and man-made disasters, it is hereby ordered as
follows:

Section 1. Policy. (a) It is the policy of this
Administration to use information technology more
effectively to coordinate the Federal Government's
collection and dissemination of information to
appropriate response agencies and State governments to
prepare for and respond to natural and man-made
disasters (disasters). As a result of changing
population demographics in our coastal, rural, and
urban areas over the past decades, the loss of life and
property (losses) from disasters has nearly doubled.
One of the ways the Federal Government can reduce these
losses is to use technology more effectively to
coordinate its collection and dissemination (hereafter
referred to collectively as “provision”) of
information which can be used in both planning for and
recovering from disasters. While many agencies provide
disaster-related information, they may not always
provide it in a coordinated manner. To improve the
provision of disaster-related information, the agencies
shall, as set out in this order, use information
technology to coordinate the Federal Government's
provision of information to prepare for, respond to,
and recover from domestic disasters.

    (b) It is also the policy of this Administration to
use information technology and existing channels of
disaster assistance to improve the Federal Government's
provision of information that could be helpful to
foreign governments preparing for or responding to
foreign disasters. Currently, the United States
Government provides disaster-related information to
foreign governments and relief organizations on
humanitarian grounds at the request of foreign
governments and where appropriate. This information is
supplied by Federal agencies on an ad hoc basis. To
increase the effectiveness of our response to foreign
disasters, agencies shall, where appropriate, use
information technology to coordinate the Federal
Government's provision of disaster-related information
to foreign governments.
    (c) To carry out the policies in this order, there
is established the Global Disaster Information Network
(Network). The Network is defined as the coordinated
effort by Federal agencies to develop a strategy and to
use existing technical infrastructure, to the extent
permitted by law and subject to the availability of
appropriations and under the guidance of the
Interagency Coordinating Committee and the Committee
Support Office, to make more effective use of
information technology to assist our Government, and
foreign governments where appropriate, by providing
disaster-related information to prepare for and respond
to disasters.

Sec. 2. Establishment. (a) There is established an
Interagency Coordinating Committee (Committee) to
provide leadership and oversight for the development of
the Network. The Office of the Vice President, the
Department of Commerce through the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of
State, respectively, shall designate a representative
to serve as Co-chairpersons of the Committee. The
Committee membership shall comprise representatives
from the following departments and agencies:

    (1) Department of State;
    (2) Department of Defense;
    (3) Department of the Interior;
    (4) Department of Agriculture;
    (5) Department of Commerce;
    (6) Department of Transportation;
    (7) Department of Energy;
    (8) Office of Management and Budget;
    (9) Environmental Protection Agency;
    (10) National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
    (11) United States Agency for International
Development;
    (12) Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
    (13) Central Intelligence Agency.

At the discretion of the Co-chairpersons of the
Committee, other agencies may be added to the Committee
membership. The Committee shall include an Executive
Secretary to effect coordination between the Co-
chairpersons of the Committee and the Committee Support
Office.

    (b) There is established a Committee Support Office
(Support Office) to assist the Committee by developing
plans and projects that would further the creation of
the Network. The Support Office shall, at the request
of the Co-chairpersons of the Committee, carry out
tasks taken on by the Committee.
    (c) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall provide funding and administrative
support for the Committee and the Support Office. To
the extent permitted by law, agencies may provide
support to the Committee and the Support Office to
assist them in their work.

Sec. 3. Responsibilities. (a) The Committee shall:

(1)

serve as the United States Government's single entity for all matters, both
national and international, pertaining to the development and establishment
of the Network;

(2)

provide leadership and high-level coordination of Network activities;

(3)

provide guidance for the development of Network strategies, goals,
objectives, policies, and legislation;

(4)

represent and advocate Network goals, objectives, and processes to their
respective agencies and departments;

(5)

provide manpower and material support for Network development activities;

(6)

develop, delegate, and monitor interagency opportunities and ideas
supporting the development of the Network; and

(7)

provide reports, through the Co-chairpersons of the Committee, to the
President as requested or at least annually.

    (b) The Support Office shall:

(1)

provide management and administrative support for the Committee;

(2)

develop Network strategies, goals, objectives, policies, plans, and
legislation in accordance with guidance provided by the Committee;

(3)

consult with agencies, States, nongovernment organizations, and
international counterparts in developing Network development tasks;

(4)

develop and make recommendations concerning Network activities to the
agencies as approved by the Committee; and

(5)

participate in projects that promote the goals and objectives of the
Network.

Sec. 4. Implementation. (a) The Committee, with the
assistance of the Support Office, shall address
national and international issues associated with the
development of the Network within the context of:

    (1) promoting the United States as an example and
leader in the development and dissemination of disaster
information, both domestically and abroad, and, to this
end, seeking cooperation with foreign governments and
international organizations;
    (2) striving to include all appropriate
stakeholders in the development of the Network; and
    (3) facilitating the creation of a framework that
involves public and private stakeholders in a
partnership for sustained operations of the Network.
    (b) Intelligence activities, as determined by the
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, as well as
national security-related activities of the Department
of Defense and of the Department of Energy, are exempt
from compliance with this order.

Sec. 5. Tribal Governments. This order does not impose
any requirements on tribal governments.

Sec. 6. Judicial Review. This order does not create any
right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable by law, by a party against the United
States, its officers, its employees, or any other
person.

    (Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

     April 27, 2000.