Mutual Aid Agreements and Compacts

Mutual aid agreements establish the legal basis for two or more entities to share resources.

 

Various forms of mutual aid agreements and compacts exist among and between all levels of government in the United States.

 

These agreements may authorize mutual aid:

  • Between two or more neighboring communities
  • Among all jurisdictions within an state
  • Between States, Territories and Tribal Governments
  • Between Federal agencies
  • Internationally
  • Between government and NGOs and/or the private sector
  • Among NGOs and/or private sector entities

 

Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)

 

EMAC is a congressionally ratified mutual aid compact that defines a non-Federal, state-to-state system for sharing resources across state lines during an emergency or disaster. Signatories include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. EMAC enables the movement of a wide variety of resources to meet the needs of impacted jurisdictions.

Person signing letter