The International Emergency Management Assistance Compact is hereby entered into and enacted into law with any and all of the states legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:
Article I Purpose and Authorities —
The purpose of this compact is to provide for the possibility of mutual assistance among the jurisdictions entering into this compact in managing any emergency or disaster when the affected jurisdiction or jurisdictions ask for assistance, whether arising from natural disaster, technological hazard, man-made disaster or civil emergency aspects of resource shortages.
This compact also provides for the process of planning mechanisms among the agencies responsible and for mutual cooperation, including, if need be, emergency-related exercises, testing, or other training activities using equipment and personnel simulating performance of any aspect of the giving and receiving of aid by party jurisdictions or subdivisions of party jurisdictions during emergencies, with such actions occurring outside actual declared emergency periods. Mutual assistance in this compact may include the use of emergency forces by mutual agreement among party jurisdictions.
Article II General Implementation —
The prompt, full and effective utilization of resources of the participating jurisdictions, including any resources on hand or available from any other source that are essential to the safety, care and welfare of the people in the event of any emergency or disaster, shall be the underlying principle on which all articles of this compact are understood.
On behalf of the party jurisdictions participating in the compact, the legally designated official who is assigned responsibility for emergency management is responsible for formulation of the appropriate inter-jurisdictional mutual aid plans and procedures necessary to implement this compact, and for recommendations to the jurisdiction concerned with respect to the amendment of any statutes, regulations or ordinances required for that purpose.
Article III Party Jurisdiction Responsibilities —
(1) Review individual jurisdiction hazards analyses that are available and, to the extent reasonably possible, determine all those potential emergencies the party jurisdictions might jointly suffer, whether due to natural disaster, technological hazard, man-made disaster or emergency aspects of resource shortages;
(2) Initiate a process to review party jurisdictions' individual emergency plans and develop a plan that will determine the mechanism for the inter-jurisdictional cooperation;
(3) Develop inter-jurisdictional procedures to fill any identified gaps and to resolve any identified inconsistencies or overlaps in existing or developed plans;
(4) Assist in warning communities adjacent to or crossing jurisdictional boundaries;
(5) Protect and ensure delivery of services, medicines, water, food, energy and fuel, search and rescue and critical lifeline equipment, services and resources, both human and material to the extent authorized by law; and
(6) Inventory and agree upon procedures for the inter-jurisdictional loan and delivery of human and material resources, together with procedures for reimbursement or forgiveness.
(b) Request assistance. The authorized representative of a party jurisdiction may request assistance of another party jurisdiction by contacting the authorized representative of that jurisdiction. These provisions only apply to requests for assistance made by and to authorized representatives. Requests may be verbal or in writing. If verbal, the request must be confirmed in writing within fifteen (15) days of the verbal request. Requests must provide the following information:
(1) A description of the emergency service function for which assistance is needed and of the mission or missions, including, but not limited to, fire services, emergency medical, transportation, communications, public works and engineering, building inspection, planning and information assistance, mass care, resource support, health and medical services and search and rescue;
(2) The amount and type of personnel, equipment, materials and supplies needed and a reasonable estimate of the length of time they will be needed; and
(3) The specific place and time for staging of the assisting party's response and a point of contact at the location.
(c) Consultation among party jurisdiction officials. There shall be frequent consultation among the party jurisdiction officials who have assigned emergency management responsibilities, such officials collectively known hereinafter as the International Emergency Management Group, and other appropriate representatives of the party jurisdictions with free exchange of information, plans and resource records relating to emergency capabilities to the extent authorized by law.
Article IV Limitation —
Article V Licenses and Permits —
Article VI Liability —
Article VII Supplementary Agreements —
Article VIII Workers' Compensation and Death Benefits —
Article IX Reimbursement —
Article X Evacuation —
Article XI Implementation —
(b) Any party jurisdiction may withdraw from this compact, but the withdrawal does not take effect until thirty (30) days after the governor or premier of the withdrawing jurisdiction has given notice in writing of such withdrawal to the governors or premiers of all other party jurisdictions. The action does not relieve the withdrawing jurisdiction from obligations assumed under this compact prior to the effective date of withdrawal.
(c) Duly authenticated copies of this compact in the French and English languages and of such supplementary agreements as may be entered into shall, at the time of their approval, be deposited with each of the party jurisdictions.
Article XII Severability —
Article XIII Inconsistency of Language —
Article XIV Amendment —
History of Section.
P.L. 2013, ch. 175, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 227, § 1.