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1966 Blue Book

	ADJUTANT GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT	417

than the distance specified by statute. The department has authority to grant permits to cities, villages and municipal corporations to withdraw, transport and use ground water.

     In addition to the duties of the department outlined above, the Director of Water Resources is a member of the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee, and the State Water Pollution Control Council. The Director is serving as the Nebraska member of the Big Blue River Compact Commission which was created in 1960 to apportion the waters of the Big Blue River and its tributaries, including the Little Blue River, between the States of Nebraska and Kansas.

     Legislative Bill 220 of the 1963 Legislature created the Nebraska Power Review Board within the Department of Water Resources. The board consists of five members, one of whom must be an engineer, one an attorney, one an accountant, and two lay persons. The five member board was appointed by the Governor in May, 1963. Initial appointees serve for staggered terms of two, three and four years, thereafter the term of office is for four years. No member of the board shall serve more than two consecutive terms. Each member receives $50.00 a day for each day actually engaged in his duties, but not to exceed $5,000 in any one year, and is reimbursed for necessary expenses. The Director of Water Resources serves as secretary to the board. The legislation empowers the board to authorize the construction of transmission lines and related facilities outside of the corporate limits of cities and villages, to require public power districts, municipalities and other suppliers of electricity at retail to enter into service area agreements and to enforce such agreements. The board also has advisory powers in disputes between suppliers concerning rates for service furnished by such suppliers which cannot be settled by negotiations.

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STAFF DIVISIONS

Publications: Biennial Report, Cornhusker Guardsman, Civil Defense Beacon, Annual National Guard News Review and State directives applicable to the department.

     The Adjutant General's Department is an emergency type organization that functions as a State Department of Defense for both military and non-military operations. The State Military Forces consist of Army and Air National Guard troops and State Guard Forces when organized. These forces conduct military type operations and military missions in support of civil authority. Non-military type operations are conducted by the State Civil Defense Agency.

     The act of February 15, 1864, authorized establishment of the Office of the Adjutant General for the Territory of Nebraska with an annual salary of $300.00. The Territorial Militia was organized under an act approved February 13, 1865. However, the initial organization of two regiments was on December 23, 1854 under a proclamation issued by Acting Territorial Governor, T. B. Cuming. The occasion for the establishment of the militia organization was the Great Sioux and Cheyenne Indian War on the Territorial border. The act of the State Legislature on February 15, 1869 continued the office. The Legislature on March 17, 1871 transferred the functions of the Adjutant General to the Secretary of State. By act of February 28, 1881 the Office of the Adjutant General was again established as a separate entity and has continued as such since that time. From its inception in 1854 until the end of the Indian Wars in 1890 the status of the militia organization fluctuated with the requirements of the time.

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     The Governor as the Commander-in-Chief of the State Military Forces appoints the Adjutant General from among the commissioned officers of the Nebraska National Guard. The appointment is permanent until the mandatory retirement age of sixty-four is reached or the incumbent resigns or is relieved according to law. The Adjutant General controls the State Military Department for the Governor whose orders he transmits.

     The Adjutant General represents the state at all national, regional and area conferences pertaining to affairs related to military and nonmilitary defense. He is responsible for the development of all civil and military defense, survival and disaster recovery plans for the state; and coordinates with appropriate national and regional agencies and with other states in the Army, Air Force, Civil Defense and Office of Emergency Planning structure.

     The Nebraska Army National Guard (ARNG) organization has 42 troop units located in 30 communities throughout the state with a strength allocation of 4,865 officers and men. The major Army Guard Tactical Headquarters is the 67th (Centennial) Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) commanded by Brigadier General William F. Bachman. The 67th Brigade was designated as part of the Nation's elite Army Guard "Selected Reserve Force" (SRF) in 1965. Significantly the Brigade is the only mechanized element in the Selected Reserve Force. The Nebraska Air National Guard (ANG) is organized with seven units with a manning strength of 880 officers and men. All units are located at the Lincoln Air National Guard Base. The major Air Guard Tactical Headquarters is the 155th Tactical Reconnaissance Group commanded by Colonel Fred H. Bailey, Jr. The Air National Guard was designated a part of the Air Force high priority "Beef Broth" units. By law and regulation the State is authorized two State Headquarters and Headquarters Detachments. One for the Army National Guard and one for the Air National Guard. Both headquarters are primarily for the purpose of assisting the State military authorities in the administration, logistics, training and operations of the State Military Forces in preparation for and execution of both State and Federal Missions. In addition the Army National Guard has Federal Missions to train for use during a National Emergency a nucleus of National Guard officers for duties in connection with Selective Service, Internal Security and Military Support to Civil Authority, National Guard officers are on federal active duty with the State headquarters of the Selective Service System. The Selective Service Section of the Army Guard Headquarters trains annually with either the National, Regional or State Headquarters of the Selective Service System (all federal agencies). All Army Guard troops receive training for Internal Security and Military Support Missions as part of the annual training requirement. In addition to the Federal Mission capability troops are

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called to state active duty to execute these missions within the state when authorized by the Governor.

     The State Mission of the Nebraska National Guard is to provide sufficient organizations; so trained and equipped as to enable them to function efficiently at existing strengths in the protection of life and property and the preservation of peace, order and public safety, under competent orders of the State authority.

     The Federal Mission of the Nebraska National Guard is to provide units of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces adequately organized, trained and equipped, available for mobilization in the event of national emergency or war, in accordance with the deployment schedule and capable of participating in combat operations in support of the nation's war plans. This mission may include the defense of critical areas of the United States against attack.

     The Nebraska State Guard is an organization established and maintained as a plan ready to be manned and implemented whenever the National Guard of the state, or any element thereof, is in Active Federal Service, or whenever the President of the United States or the Governor of Nebraska shall declare an emergency. Forces will be composed of officers commissioned or assigned by the Governor, and such able bodied citizens of the state as shall volunteer for service, supplemented, if necessary, by men of the Reserve Militia enrolled by draft or as otherwise provided by law; additional to and distinct from the National Guard. Citizens may be legally inducted or conscripted for the Militia.

     The Nebraska Civil Defense Act of 1951, approved May 26, 1951, is the basic authority under which the State Civil Defense program operates. This act was amended in 1953 to establish the Nebraska Civil Defense Agency within the Adjutant General's Department and the Adjutant General is appointed State Civil Defense Director by executive order of the Governor to administer the program. Under the National Civil Defense Act, the federal government provides assistance for financial support, training and equipment procurement under a matching funds program. (PL 85-606)

     During fiscal year 1965, 27 political subdivisions received $58,447 in federal funding (PL 85-606) and matched that amount from local resources. At the State level federal funds for the State Civil Defense Agency, Department of Aeronautics and Health amounted to $50,964

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which was matched with state funds. During fiscal year 1966, only 23 organizations were federally funded for $70,258. The State Civil Defense Agency received $71,843. In addition the Departments of Aeronautics and Health received $9,428. Primarily this funding was for personnel and administration.

     The Nebraska Civil Defense Agency provides guidance and assistance to the political subdivisions within the state. The state government exercises emergency control in disaster areas only when an emergency has been proclaimed. The request procedures for aid beyond the capability of local resources are well established throughout all echelons in the governmental structure. Civil defense, very simply stated, is nothing more than the duly constituted government in emergency action.

     The objective of civil defense at all levels of government is to train the individual citizen in the techniques of survival and assistance to others in natural and manmade disasters. This program is being carried out at state and county levels and in many communities.

     Civil defense organizations at all levels of government have continued to increase in effectiveness since the inception of this program. In Nebraska natural disasters occur frequently and many reach major proportions. Therefore, civil defense has proven to be an essential element of government.

     The aftermath of disasters, particularly those of major proportion, calls for a disaster relief organization. Such an organization is superimposed on the civil defense structure at state level. The Adjutant General is appointed Disaster Coordinator by executive order of the Governor to administer the disaster relief program for the state and its political subdivisions for any natural or manmade disaster, Public Law 875 provides authority and procedures for reimbursement with federal funds for damages to public property. For the one year period ending June 30, 1964, the reimbursed damage amounted to $454,358. No PL 875 funds were received during 1965 and the first half of 1966. However, reimbursements usually run several months behind depending upon when the political subdivisions file claims. The State Storm Emergency Fund also administered in this program, provides funds to support essential state operations in disaster situations.

     Warning to the state in the event of a possible enemy attack is the responsibility of the federal government. It is Nebraska's responsibility to warn its 93 counties; counties, their cities and rural areas; cities, the urban population.

     Warning in Nebraska is accomplished by combining the National Warning System (NAWAS) and the Nebraska Warning Network (County Sheriff's Radio System) to execute the warning mission.

     In addition to the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Lincoln, nine (9) Nebraska cities are connected directly to the Na

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tional Warning Center at the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) installation deep underground in Cheyenne Mountain near Colorado Springs, Colorado. The warning equipment in Nebraska is in the custody of police department personnel who double as warning officers at Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk, Grand Island, Hastings, McCook, North Platte, Valentine and Scottsbluff to receive a warning when issued and immediately relay it over the County Sheriff's Radio System to the counties assigned to their area of responsibility.

     Eighty-nine (89) counties have radios operating in the County Sheriff's Radio System and receive the warning via this method. Four (4) counties having no radio in the system must be warned by telephone.

     The National Warning Center tests its connections to the nine (9) Nebraska cities 730 times annually, with the warning points at county level being tested 52 times annually. The 93 counties in Nebraska can be alerted in less than 4 minutes. The Lincoln Weather Bureau has been added recently to the system to permit alerting the state in the event of a weather emergency. In the near future weather bureau stations at Scottsbluff, North Platte, Grand Island, Norfolk and Omaha will be added to the communications alerting system.

     These 23 communities indicate location of 200 bed pro-positioned packaged disaster hospitals and the physicians in charge of each:

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    The Shelter Program has established 1,329 facilities as meeting minimum standards which will accommodate 808,641 individuals. Facilities stocked include 696 which will fill the basic needs of 329,167 for a period of two weeks. Stockage includes emergency food, water, medical sanitary and radiological defense equipment.

     The Community Shelter Planning Program was initiated May 16, 1966, in Nebraska. The entire program is financed with federal funds provided by contract with the National Office of Civil Defense. A professional urban planner has been hired to carry out the terms of the contract and is titled, Community Shelter Planning Office -State. Under provisions of the contract, professional planning direction is made available to local government and civil defense personnel as they produce their local community shelter plan (CSP). The CSP will: Inform the population as to where they may go in the event of an enemy attack, defines areas that are deficient in adequate shelter space, provide a plan for creating additional shelter over a long period of time as well as hasty shelter during periods of Increased International Tension, and provide the basis on which other emergency plans may be developed.

     The cities of Omaha, Lincoln and Grand Island have signed a contract with the Corps of Engineers which, in addition to producing their Community Shelter Plan, has financed the costs incident to hiring a professional urban planner to their existing planning staff.

     Civil Defense Training reflects the following areas covered and individuals trained:

     The Radiological Instrument Maintenance Program continues to be satellited upon the National Guard maintenance organization. Federal funds support this program to maintain 1,638 radiological monitoring sets.

     The Office of Emergency Planning at state Level established June 1, 1964, continues as an integrated program with the Civil Defense Agency as an element of Civil Emergency Measures. The major function of this program is management of resources, both human and material, for emergencies. The Adjutant General is appointed Director of Emergency Planning by executive order of the Governor.

© 2004 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carole Miller