CDC Support for the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)
Ratified by Congress and signed into law in 1996, the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) is an interstate mutual aid agreement that provides a mechanism for sharing personnel, equipment and resources among states during emergencies and disasters. EMAC has traditionally been used by states for National Guard, emergency management and other types of response assistance. More recently, it was used to provide public health assistance during the 2005 hurricane season with much success. Some benefits of using EMAC for public health emergency response include
- Increased collaboration among states during emergency planning, preparedness and response;
- Better awareness and understanding of state and local needs;
- Increased access to personnel, equipment and resources;
- Consideration of legal issues related to worker compensation, liability, credentialing and reimbursement.
All 50 states, three territories (U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam), and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation to become members of EMAC. To use EMAC in the most effective manner possible, health departments are encouraged to collaborate with their emergency management agencies and other response partners to increase their awareness and understanding of the EMAC system, organization, components and principles. Health departments are also encouraged to participate in education and training on EMAC whenever possible.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services (EEHS) coordinates the EMAC Environmental Health Assistance Initiative.
The objectives of the initiative are to
- Encourage the increased use of EMAC among states in the provision of public health and environmental health assistance and resources during emergencies and disasters;
- Define and establish the roles of CDC in providing consultation, technical expertise and support to public health and environmental health departments during emergencies and disasters when EMAC is being used to provide state-to-state assistance and resources.
CDC facilitates and supports efforts to provide education, awareness and training on EMAC to local, state and federal public health professionals.
For more information on the EMAC Environmental Health Assistance Initiative, contact Martin A. Kalis at (770) 488-4568 or emac@cdc.gov.
Related Resources:
- Official website for the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)
- EMAC Tips for State Health Agencies
Information from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) on how state health agencies can effectively use EMAC for emergency response - A Menu of Suggested Provisions for Public Health Mutual Aid Agreements
- EMAC Overview PowerPoint Presentation, March 2006
(700 KB/47pages)
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GAO Highlights: Emergency Management Assistance Compact (171 KB/1page)
Enhancing EMAC’s Collaborative and Administrative Capacity Should Improve National Disaster Response
- CDC Public Health Law Program Mutual Aid Web Site
- GAO Full Report: Emergency Management Assistance Compact
(8.1 MB/52pages)
Enhancing EMAC’s Collaborative and Administrative Capacity Should Improve National Disaster Response
- EMAC Environmental Health Assistance Initiative Resource List
Page last modified March 19, 2008
Content Source:
- Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response (COTPER)