The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) is a congressionally ratified organization among the 50 states and territories. Through EMAC, a disaster impacted state can request and receive assistance from other member states quickly and efficiently, resolving two key issues upfront: liability and reimbursement.
Any member state may request EMAC assistance when the Governor of the affected state has declared a state of emergency for an actual or impending disaster. When a state suffers, or expects to suffer, from a major disaster or emergency and needs assistance from other states, the requesting state canbegin the EMAC procedure for requesting assistance.
EMAC offers the following benefits:
EMAC offers a responsive and straightforward system for states to send personnel and equipment to help disaster relief efforts in other states.
EMAC offers state-to-state assistance during Governor declared state of emergencies.
EMAC assistance may be more readily available than other resources.
- EMAC allows for a quick response to disasters using the unique human resources and expertise possessed by member states.
- EMAC establishes a firm legal foundation: Once the conditions for providing assistance have been agreed to, the terms constitute a legally binding contractual agreement that make affected state responsible for reimbursement.
-- Responding personnel sent are protected under workers compensation and liability provisions.
-- The EMAC agreement allows for credentials to be honored across state lines.
- EMAC allows states to ask for whatever assistance they need for any type of emergency.
- EMAC can move resources other compacts can't - such as medical resources.