Interstate mutual aid and assistance offers the exchange of resources and capabilities from state-to-state. A type of interstate mutual aid and assistance is EMAC. EMAC is facilitated by the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA). EMAC facilitates the mobilization of response resources and support between states. EMAC acts as a complement to the federal disaster response system and can be used either in lieu of or in conjunction with federal assistance. EMAC allows states to maximize the use of available resources by sending personnel, equipment and commodities to other states to help disaster relief during governor-declared states of emergencies. EMAC, established in 1996, is the only congressionally ratified mutual aid and assistance compact between all 50 states, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam. NEMA administers EMAC to support water utilities in the following ways:
- Provides the means to deploy utility assets across state lines quickly and effectively during a declared emergency
- Provides liability and other legal protections for deployed utility staff and equipment
- Provides reciprocity for licenses and certifications during deployment
|
|
|
