8940 Military Department
Program Descriptions

35 - MILITARY SUPPORT TO CIVIL AUTHORITY

The Military Support to Civil Authority Program supports the emergency needs of civil authority when called to duty by the Governor. To assure a timely and effective response of National Guard resources, policies and procedures governing their use are continuously reviewed and updated. Liaison and coordination is maintained with federal, state, and local agencies so that mutual understanding and unity of purpose is assured during an emergency. The objectives of this program are to plan and prepare for the deployment of National Guard personnel and equipment to support civil authority when called to state service by the Governor due to domestic emergency or natural disaster and to provide the state, county, city, and other public agencies with the coordination necessary to insure a timely, organized response.

The California National Guard continues to have responsibility, pursuant to prior-year sub-grant funds from the Office of Homeland Security, to coordinate and direct statewide training and exercise programs for state and local first responders involving incidents of Weapons of Mass Destruction. This program is a critical aspect of the overall State Homeland Security Assessment and Strategy, and the state partnership with the United States Department of Homeland Security, Office of Domestic Preparedness.