The Iowa Mutual Aid Compact (IMAC), which went into effect in 2002, is an internal mutual assistance agreement that provides the mechanism for political subdivisions and emergency management commissions to share resources during a disaster declared by the local jurisdiction or governor. The pact increases each member`s emergency preparedness and allows them to work as a team when disasters exceed local capacities. Legislation adopted in the spring 2009 session provides for significant changes: emergency management commissions are now included as signatories to IMAC, membership in the Pact is automatic for all political subdivisions, and authorized representatives are appointed. Depending on the type of MAA, a state legislature may need to formally approve a state`s participation in the agreement and enforce it in law, for example. B in the case of EMAC (see below). State laws or ordinances may also establish legal requirements that govern the establishment and operation of assistance and support agreements in the state at large. These State-specific requirements may affect internal agreements between localities and other parties, as well as intergovernmental agreements between the State and other parties. To operationalize MAs, the federal, state, municipal government, and other organizations involved in aid agreements have developed policies, protocols, and definitions of specific resource typing that require the provision of assistance. In addition to the legal requirements for aid management, continuous training, exercise and updating of aid agreements and the policies and protocols they implement is a key factor in the effective delivery of mutual assistance. While the use of a title such as “Memorandum of Understanding” is common for non-binding documents, we caution that simply labeling a document as a “Memorandum of Understanding” does not automatically mean to the United States that the document is not binding under international law. The United States has signed memoranda of understanding that are considered binding international agreements. Emergency managers should meet regularly with government agencies, community agencies and specialized response organizations to discuss likely emergencies and their ability to provide resources.
Mutual assistance agreements should facilitate the rapid and short-term deployment of emergency assistance before, during and after a security incident. However, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Planning Guide states that a response from state or federal resources can take up to 72 hours or more. Memoranda of Understanding or Memoranda of Understanding may be used with the private sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to facilitate possible joint efforts in the event of an incident. Letters of intent may be legally binding, depending on the intent of the parties, the language used in the document and the local jurisdiction. However, other declarations of intent may be interpreted as a non-binding “gentlemen`s agreement”. Expanding the scope of response skills can be very beneficial for businesses in the event of an emergency or disaster. Interoperability and related agreements with local, state, and federal agencies can provide additional resources based on specific experience, research, or professional training in a particular field, which can reduce response time in a dire situation. These calls for mutual assistance are the result of an escalation of incidents determined by the Chief Operating Officer. The answers required by other cities are predefined, so a dispatcher only has to call the appropriate resources determined by the “race map” for such an incident. According to FEMA, “Mutual Assistance Agreements and Support Agreements are agreements between agencies, organizations, and jurisdictions that provide a mechanism for rapid emergency assistance in the form of personnel, equipment, materials, and other related services.” While an established MAA such as the EMAC or a model aid agreement may require the inclusion of a particular language in an agreement, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through NIMS has identified a number of important elements that should generally be included in maAs1: Utilities typically also have mutual assistance agreements.
[1] Mutual Assistance Agreements (MAs) and other types of arrangements to provide assistance before, during and after an emergency event facilitate the rapid mobilization of personnel, equipment and supplies. Agreements can be made at several levels of government: between state/local authorities; between a State and localities within the State; between two or more States in a region; between states and tribes; or internationally between states and jurisdictions neighbouring Canada or Mexico. MAOIs can also exist under a variety of types of organizations, including governments, nonprofits, and private companies. The format of agreements can range from formal pacts adopted by a state legislature to informal memoranda of understanding that describe how state and private resources provide assistance within a given community. Emergency MAOAs typically deal with emergency management, fire, law enforcement, and medical response, although they can address other issues (see below). Participation in MAIDs is considered an important component of the federal National Incident Management System (NIMS), which aims to provide a systematic approach to support governments at all levels, non-governmental organizations and the private sector in collaborative emergency preparedness and response activities.1 In emergency services, Mutual assistance is an agreement between emergency responders to provide assistance across jurisdictional boundaries. This may occur due to an emergency response that exceeds local resources, para. B example a disaster or fire with several alarms. Mutual assistance may be provided on an ad hoc basis and may only be requested if such an urgency arises. It can also be a formal standing agreement for cooperative emergency management on an ongoing basis, e.B. ensure that resources are removed from the nearest fire station, regardless of which side of the jurisdictional boundary the incident is on. Agreements that send the closest resources are regularly referred to as “automatic assistance agreements.” .