A Brief Survey of Mutual Aid Systems

1
A Brief Survey of Mutual Aid Systems

• Terry Egan, Ed.D.
• Emergency Management Division
• Washington Military Department

2
Historical Context

• First Historical Record of Mutual Aid is in the
  Northern Sung Dynasty (960-1127 A.D.) in China.
• First Historical Record of Mutual Aid in the
  United States occurred during the Great New York
  Fire in 1835 when 500 Philadelphia Volunteer
  firemen responded.

3
State and Local Mutual Aid

• Fire district mutual aid
• Informal Agreements
• State Fire Mobilization
• State Law Mobilization
• Intrastate Mutual Aid Compacts (31 States)

4
What is EMAC?

• EMAC, Emergency Management Assistance Compact, is
  a national Governors interstate mutual aid
  compact that facilitates the sharing of
  resources, personnel and equipment across state
  lines during times of disaster and emergency.
  EMAC is formalized into law by member parties.

5
EMAC Mission

• Facilitate the efficient and effective sharing
  of resources between member states during times
  of disaster or emergency.

6
Who are EMACs Members?
50 states, the District of Columbia,  Puerto Rico
and the U.S. Virgin Islands have enacted EMAC
legislation.
EMAC has met the needs of citizens during time
of disasters through a unified effort among the
member states
July 2003
7
EMAC Activation (simplified)
Disaster occurs, Governor declares state of
emergency
State emergency management agency assesses
needs A-Teams Resources needed
Resources are Requested via the EMAC
system A-Teams Cost estimates
Assisting States Provide Resources Reimbursement
8
EMAC Applications

• Hazard mitigation
• Community outreach
• Search and rescue
• Debris clearance
• Information planning
• Public Health
• Hazardous materials
• Human services/mass care
• Animal control
• Information/planning
• Terrorist events

• State/Local EOC Support
• Damage assessment
• Disaster recovery
• Logistics
• Donations management
• Security
• Communications
• Fire fighting
• Aviation support
• Biological/chemical events
• Medical personnel/resources

any capability of member states can be shared
with member states
9
Total EMAC Response
Current 5/24/2006
Total Estimated EMAC Response to Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita (Florida, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, NCT, and RCT)
65,929 Personnel Deployed 19,426 Civilian
46,503 National Guard 830 M Estimated Cost
Notes Still have pending missions awaiting
signatures have 30 days from verbal agreement
to signature Costs and Personnel
Numbers are Finalized in Reimbursement
10
International Agreements

• Pacific Northwest Emergency Management
  Arrangement (PNEMA)
• Annex B
• WA, OR, ID, BC, YK
• International Emergency Management Memorandum of
  Understanding
• ME, NH, RI, MA, VT, CT
• Quebec Maritimes