Effective EMAC Response Hinges on Trained and Prepared State Personnel

During the response to Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011, 25 states sent 1,126 people on 68 missions to 10 states through EMAC.  NEMA conducted an after action review that included 40 participants from 22 states that were involved in the direct coordination and/or delivery of EMAC resources.  Participants outlined what went well during the response and areas where improvements could be made.  Conclusions: Two overall factors determine the success of a state to respond to and recover from any disaster:  1) States that have a high level of EMAC pre-event preparedness experience a much higher level of success than states that do not; and 2) Qualified, knowledgeable and trained personnel including executive leadership, enhance the process of expediting mutual aid assistance when needed.  Thank you to all of the representatives who participated in the AAR.

Download the 2011 Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee EMAC AAR here

The devastating flooding left from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee that impacted New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Delaware, Connecticut, Vermont, and Pennsylvania was responded to by states sending 1123 personnel into the impacted areas under EMAC.  Operations started on August 25, 2011 will continue through October 15, 2011. 

Photo Credit: NOAA

The National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), through grant funds from the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS/FEMA) awarded grants to the states to develop EMAC capabilities. States will use the funding to develop mission ready packages for response specific resources and to develop EMAC focused exercises.

In response to the devastating tornadoes and floods this past spring,  states deployed  947 state and local personnel under EMAC to conduct search and rescue, law enforcement, donations management, public information officers, and EMAC A-Teams to the impacted states of Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Idaho, Mississippi, Maryland, and Iowa.