Going Beyond EMAC – The Role of the Mutual Aid Project

The Mutual Aid Project under the Mid America Alliance is intended to provide aid in the form of personnel, services and equipment in the event of an emergency not meeting the governor declared emergency threshold.  It is important that the participating members understand the distinction between the goals of the Mutual Aid Project and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact that was developed to address the needs of states in a governor declared emergency.  The EMAC stated purpose is as follows:

“The purpose of this compact is to provide for mutual assistance between the states entering into this compact in managing any emergency or disaster that is duly declared by the governor of the affected state(s), whether arising from natural disaster, technological hazard, man-made disaster, civil emergency aspects of resources shortages, community disorders, insurgency, or enemy attack.”

The principal aim of the Mutual Aid Alliance, therefore, is to provide assistance in those instances not covered by EMAC; examples of which have occurred and are expected to reappear in the future.   These situations may be outbreaks of infectious disease or toxic chemical spills.  Essentially, EMAC is initiated through a governor declared emergency whereas the Mutual Aid Alliance will serve to share services and equipment at the discretion of a state in need, yet unable to declare a state of emergency. 

Current EMAC legislation is very similar to the proposed legislation that the Mid America Alliance is investigating for the development of a model program.   One alternative the Alliance will explore is the possibility of creating an amendment to the EMAC legislation for the purpose of accomplishing the additional goals.  All states involved in the Mutual Aid Alliance have passed the EMAC legislation, therefore an amendment to the legislation may be the proper and most efficient method of implementation. 

Article VII of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact addresses the issue of supplementary agreements:

“Inasmuch as it is probable that the pattern and detail of the machinery for mutual aid among two or more states may differ from that among the states that are party hereto, this instrument contains elements of a broad base common to all states, and nothing herein contained shall preclude any state from entering into supplementary agreements with another state or affect any other agreements already in force between states.”

Thus, it is entirely within the statutes of EMAC for states to enter into other agreements without compromising the legislation of EMAC.