extent to which they are applicable, be as effective in dealing with
natural disaster as with enemy attack.

I should like to take this opportunity of presenting to you certi-
ficates, whereby I, as Governor of the State of Maryland, formally
recognize the services you are performing as members of the State
Emergency Resource Planning Committee.

REMARKS, STATE EMERGENCY RESOURCES PLANNING

COMMITTEE

PIKESVILLE

September 8, 1965

It is most reassuring to know the scope and depth of the planning
that you have accomplished during the past 15 months, and on
behalf of the people of Maryland, I express our sincere thanks for
your dedicated efforts.

It is apparent from the reports of you gentlemen who have chaired
our planning task forces, and who now assume responsibilities as
directors of our emergency resource organizations, that you have given
generously of your time and efforts to this task with able assistance
from your colleagues in commerce, industry, the professions and
government. It is a truism that capable people can make a poor plan
work and that the best plan in the hands of incompetents will surely
result in failure. It appears to me that Maryland is doubly blessed
in that we have the best people available within the State, and appear
also to have a very workable plan. It is apparent that our plan is
well developed as regards our interaction with the federal govern-
ment and procedures to effect state-wide coordination and control.
However, it remains for us now to take these procedures down to
each political subdivision and work with them to insure that they
are prepared to play their part. General Van Brunt has assured me
that this is his next order of business.

Time marches on, and within that context I want to remind you
that this is not something we can put on the shelf and forget about.
Ours is a constantly growing population and developing economy, and
our plans must keep pace with this growth. This is primarily the
responsibility of General Van Brunt and his staff, but he cannot do
it without your continuing support. Our principal State departments
play vital roles in the emergency organizations we have developed,

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