What is EMAC?
EMAC, the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, provides for assistance during governor declared states
of emergency that allows states to send personnel, equipment, and commodities to help disaster relief efforts in
other states. All 50 states plus the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam have enacted
legislation to become EMAC members. This means that as a drinking water or wastewater utility, you are already
covered by EMAC legislation, and you too can benefit from this state-to-state mutual aid system. However,
to use EMAC to your full advantage during a statewide emergency, you should be familiar with EMAC and how
it works. To learn more, visitlnu»rofflWE?mff8vBy!IBff^M
How does EMAC support my Utility?
•	Provides the means to deploy utility assets across state lines quickly and effectively during a declared emergency
•	Provides liability and other legal protections for deployed utility staff and equipment
•	Provides reciprocity for licenses and certifications during deployment
EMAC IN ACTION
®
A states governor
declares an emergency
or disaster, activating
EMAC.
©
The affected state requests
resources through EMAC.
The assisting states
prepare and make offers
of assistance.
@
Once an offer is accepted,
an agreement called a
Request for Assistance
(REQ A) is prepared and
signed by both states.

If approved, responding
resources assemble into
teams (mobilize), travel to the
incident site (deploy) and
come home (demobilize) when
the mission is complete.

The requesting
state reimburses the
assisting state.

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Water Utilities & the
Emergency Management
Assistance Compact
EMAC
CASE STUDY:
During large-scale events, representatives
from the National Emergency Management
Association (NEMA) participate in daily WARN
situational awareness briefings hosted by the
American Water Works Association (AWWA),
This coordination benefited the water sector
during Superstorm Sandy. For that event, NEMA
and state emergency management agency
personnel were able to make directed inquiries
regarding water sector emergency generator
requests. Multiple requests were fulfilled within
12 hours notice. This included a WARN-driven
EMAC deployment of generator assets from a
mid-Atlantic utility to support utility requests
in New Jersey. Please see AWWAs Superstorm
Sandv After-Action Report for more details.
How can my Utility Prepare to Use EMAC?
1.	Get to know your local emergency manager, who will have
a direct line of communication with your state emergency
management agency during a disaster.
2.	Join your state's Water and Wastewater Agency Response
Network (WARN) for statewide access to utility resources.
3.	Assess your resources and determine what type of response
team your utility could deploy or may need during an
incident. Inventory and type your resources. By doing
this, you are creating a catalog of personnel and equipment
that will expedite your utility's ability to request resources
or fulfill a resource request. Use the Water & Wastewater
Mutual Aid & Assistance Resource Typing Manual which is
based on the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Tier I resources.
4.	Gather information needed to prepare cost estimates for
personnel, equipment and other expenses that will be
incurred if you deploy resources on an EMAC mission.
5.	Visit the EMAC website to become familiar with Mission
Ready Packages (MRPs). Work with your state EMA to
assemble MRPs that can facilitate the rapid deployment of
resources in an emergency.
6.	Train your staff so that they are ready to participate in
EMAC and deploy during emergencies. Develop information
on topics such as what personal items to take, what to expect
during deployment, what health and safety risks might exist,
and what legal protections they will have. Do not deploy
without an EMAC Mission Order Authorization Form!
7.	Participate in exercises that incorporate EMAC. These may
already be hosted by your local and state emergency
management agencies, and wili help you to stay famiiiar
with EMAC procedures and forms. Stay in touch with your
local emergency manager to be notified of these exercises.
For further information, NEMA maintains an EMAC eLearning
portal that provides instruction in a self-paced, independent
atmosphere. NEMA also offers training, workshops, and
webinars upon reasonable request, if staffing allows.
Office of Water (MC 140)
EPA 817-F17-00 1
January 2017
https://www.epa.aov/waterresilience

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