Sonny Perdue is this year's designated survivor

WASHINGTON (AP) — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will skip Tuesday's State of the Union address, serving as the so-called "designated survivor."

A member of the presidential line of succession traditionally skips the address to the joint session of Congress and is safeguarded at an undisclosed location to ensure continuity of government in the event of a catastrophe.

It is being reported that Perdue is outside of Washington, D.C.

Perdue currently serves as the agriculture secretary and is ninth in line for the Presidency.