The General Assembly of this State ratifies the following compact made and entered into by and between participating member
states legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COMPACT
ARTICLE 1 -- PURPOSE AND AUTHORITIES
This compact is made and entered into by and between the participating member states which enacted this compact (hereinafter
the "Party States"). For the purposes of this agreement, the term "states" is taken to mean the several states, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and all U.S. territorial possessions.
The purpose of this compact is to provide for mutual assistance between the Party States entering into this compact in managing
any emergency or disaster that is duly declared by the governor of the affected state(s), whether arising from natural disaster,
technological hazard, man-made disaster, civil emergency aspects of resource shortages, community disorders, insurgency, or
enemy attack.
This compact shall also provide for mutual cooperation in emergency-related exercises, testing, or other training activities
using equipment and personnel simulating performance of any aspect of giving and receiving of aid by Party States or subdivisions
of Party States during emergencies, such actions occurring outside actual declared emergency periods. Mutual assistance in
this compact may include the use of the states" National Guard forces, either in accordance with the National Guard Mutual
Assistance Compact or by mutual agreement between states.
ARTICLE II -- GENERAL IMPLEMENTATION
Each Party State entering into this compact recognizes many emergencies transcend political jurisdictional boundaries and
that intergovernmental coordination is essential in managing these and other emergencies under this compact. Each Party State
further recognizes that there will be emergencies which require immediate access and present procedures to apply outside resources
to make a prompt and effective response to such an emergency. This is because few, if any, individual states have all the
resources they may need in all types of emergencies or the capability of delivering resources to areas where emergencies exist.
The prompt, full, and effective utilization of resources of the Party States, including any resources on hand or available
from the Federal Government or any other source, that are essential to the safety, care, and welfare of the people in the
event of any emergency or disaster declared by a Party State, shall be the underlying principle on which all articles of this
compact shall be understood. On behalf of the governor of each Party State participating in the compact, the legally designated
state official who is assigned responsibility for emergency management will be responsible for formulation of the appropriate
interstate mutual aid plans and procedures necessary to implement this compact.
ARTICLE III -- PARTY STATE RESPONSIBILITIES
(a) It shall be the responsibility of each Party State to formulate procedural plans and programs for interstate cooperation
in the performance of responsibilities listed in this article. In formulating such plans, and in carrying them out, the Party
State, insofar as practical shall:
(i) Review individual state hazard analyses and, to the extent reasonably possible, determine all those potential emergencies
the Party State might jointly suffer, whether due to natural disaster, technological hazard, man-made disaster, civil emergency
aspects of resource shortages, community disorders, insurgency, or enemy attack.
(ii) Review Party States' individual emergency plans and develop a plan which will determine the mechanism for the interstate
management and provision of assistance concerning any potential emergency.
(iii) Develop interstate procedures to fill identified gaps and to resolve any identified inconsistencies or overlaps in existing
or developed plans.
(iv) Assist in warning communities adjacent to or crossing the state boundaries.
(v) Protect and assure uninterrupted delivery of services, medicines, water, food, energy and fuel, search and rescue, and
critical lifeline equipment, services and resources, both human and material.
(vi) Inventory and set procedures for the interstate loan and delivery of human and material resources, together with procedures
for reimbursement or forgiveness.
(vii) Provide, to the extent authorized by law, for temporary suspension of any statutes or ordinances that restrict the implementation
of the above responsibilities.
(b) The authorized representative of a Party State may request assistance of another Party State by contacting the authorized
representative of that state. The provisions of this agreement shall only apply to requests for assistance made by and to
authorized representatives. Requests may be verbal or in writing. If verbal, the request shall be confirmed in writing within
30 days of the verbal request. Requests shall provide the following information:
(i) A description of the emergency service function for which assistance is needed, such as but not limited to fire services,
law enforcement, 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.
(ii) The amount and type of personnel, equipment, materials and supplies needed, and a reasonable estimate of the length of
time they will be needed.
(iii) The specific place and time for staging of the assisting party's response and a point of contact at that location.
(c) There shall be frequent consultation between state officials who have assigned emergency management responsibilities and
other appropriate representatives of the Party States with affected jurisdictions and the United States Government, with free
exchange of information, plans, and resource records relating to the emergency capabilities.
ARTICLE IV -- LIMITATIONS
Any Party State requested to render mutual aid or conduct exercises in training for mutual aid shall take such action as is
necessary to provide and make available the resources covered by this compact in accordance with the terms hereof; provided
that it is understood that the state rendering aid may withhold resources to the extent necessary to provide reasonable protections
for such state.
Each Party State shall afford to the emergency forces of any Party State, while operating within its state limits under the
terms and conditions of this compact, the same powers (except that of arrest unless specifically authorized by the receiving
state), duties, rights, and privileges as are afforded forces of the state in which they are performing emergency services.
Emergency forces will continue under the command and control of their regular leaders, but the organizational units will come
under the operational control of the emergency services authorities of the state receiving assistance. These conditions may
be activated, as needed, only subsequent to a declaration of a state of emergency or disaster by the governor of the Party
State that is to receive assistance or commencement of exercises or training for mutual aid and shall continue so long as
the exercises or training for mutual aid are in progress, the state of emergency or disaster remains in effect or loaned resources
remain in the receiving state(s), whichever is longer.
ARTICLE V -- LICENSES AND PERMITS
Whenever any person holds a license, certificate, or other permit issued by any Party State evidencing the meeting of qualifications
of professional, mechanical, or other skill, and when such assistance is requested by the receiving Party State, such person
shall be deemed licensed, certified, or permitted by the state requesting assistance to render aid involving such skill to
meet a declared emergency or disaster, subject to such limitations and conditions as the governor of the requesting state
may prescribe by executive order or otherwise.
ARTICLE VI -- LIABILITY
Officers or employees of a Party State rendering aid in another state pursuant to this compact shall be considered agents
of the requesting state for tort liability and immunity purposes; and no Party State or its officers or employees rendering
aid in another state pursuant to this compact shall be liable on account of any act or omission in good faith on the part
of such forces while so engaged or on account of the maintenance or use of any equipment or supplies in connection therewith.
Good faith in this article shall not include willful misconduct, gross negligence, or recklessness.
ARTICLE VII -- SUPPLEMENTARY AGREEMENTS
In as much as it is probable that the pattern and detail of the machinery for mutual aid among two or more states may differ
from that among the states that are party hereto, this instrument contains elements of a broad base common to all states,
and nothing herein contained shall preclude any state from entering into supplementary agreements with another state or affect
any other agreements already in force between states.
Supplementary agreements may comprehend, but shall not be limited to, provision for evacuation and reception of injured and
other persons and the exchange of medical, fire, police, public utility, reconnaissance, welfare, transportation and communications
personnel, and equipment and supplies.
ARTICLE VIII -- COMPENSATION
Each Party State shall provide for the payment of compensation and death benefits to injured members of the emergency forces
of the state and representatives of deceased members of such forces in case such members sustain injuries or are killed while
rendering aid pursuant to this compact, in the same manner and on the same terms as if the injury or death were sustained
within their own state.
ARTICLE IX -- REIMBURSEMENT
Any Party State rendering aid in another state pursuant to this compact shall be reimbursed by the Party State receiving such
aid for any loss or damage or expense incurred in the operation of any equipment and the provisions of any service in answering
a request for aid and for the costs incurred in connection with such requests; provided, that any aiding Party State may assume
in whole or in part such loss, damage, expense, or other cost, or may loan such equipment or donate such services to the receiving
Party State without charge or cost; and provided further, that any two or more Party States may enter into supplementary agreements
establishing a different allocation of costs among those states. Article VIII expenses shall not be reimbursable under this
provision.
ARTICLE X -- EVACUATION
Plans for the orderly evacuation and interstate reception of portions of the civilian population as the result of any emergency
or disaster of sufficient proportions to so warrant, shall be worked out and maintained between the Party State and the emergency
management/services directors of the various jurisdictions where any type of incident requiring evacuation might occur. Such
plans shall be put into effect by request of the state from which evacuees might come and shall include the manner of transporting
such evacuees, the number of evacuees to be received in different areas, the manner in which food, clothing, housing, and
medical care will be provided, the registration of the evacuees, the proving of facilities for the notification of relatives
or friends, and the forwarding of such evacuees to other areas or the bringing in of additional materials, supplies, and all
other relevant factors. Such plans shall provide that the Party State receiving evacuees and the Party State from which the
evacuees come shall mutually agree as to reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred in receiving and caring for such
evacuees, for expenditures for transportation, food, clothing, medicines and medical care, and like items. Such expenditures
shall be reimbursed as agreed by the Party State from which the evacuees come. After the termination of the emergency or disaster,
the Party State from which the evacuees come shall assume the responsibility for the ultimate support or repatriation or such
evacuees.
ARTICLE XI -- IMPLEMENTATION
A. This compact shall become operative immediately upon its enactment into law by any two (2) states; thereafter, this compact
shall become effective as to any other state upon its enactment by such state.
B. Any Party State may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take
effect until 30 days after the governor of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of such withdrawal of the governors
of all other Party States. Such action shall not relieve the withdrawing state from obligations assumed hereunder prior to
the effective date of withdrawal.
C. Duly authenticated copies of this compact and of such supplementary agreements as may be entered into shall, at the time
of their approval, be deposited with each of the Party States and with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other appropriate
agencies of the United States Government.
ARTICLE XII -- VALIDITY
This Act shall be construed to effectuate the purposes stated in Article I hereof. If any provision of this compact is declared
unconstitutional, or the applicability thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the constitutionality of the
remainder of this Act and the applicability thereof to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
ARTICLE XIII -- ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
Nothing in this compact shall authorize or permit the use of military force by the National Guard of a state at any place
outside that state in any emergency for which the President is authorized by law to call into federal service the militia,
or for any purpose for which the use of the Army or the Air Force would in the absence of express statutory authorization
be prohibited under Section 1385 of Title 18, United States Code.
70 Del. Laws, c. 413, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;
Military and Civil Defense
Civil Defense
§ 3402. Construction of chapter.
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as a limitation of powers granted in any other law to enter into interstate
compacts or other agreements relating to civil defense in an emergency or impairing in any respect the force and effect thereof.
70 Del. Laws, c. 413, § 1.;
Military and Civil Defense
Civil Defense
§ 3403. Future compacts, governing law.
To the extent that a prospective Party State has adopted an Emergency Management Assistance Compact in conformity with the
language of this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall supersede and override the provisions of Chapter 33 of this
title.
The General Assembly of this State ratifies the following compact made and entered into by and between participating member
states legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COMPACT
ARTICLE 1 -- PURPOSE AND AUTHORITIES
This compact is made and entered into by and between the participating member states which enacted this compact (hereinafter
the "Party States"). For the purposes of this agreement, the term "states" is taken to mean the several states, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and all U.S. territorial possessions.
The purpose of this compact is to provide for mutual assistance between the Party States entering into this compact in managing
any emergency or disaster that is duly declared by the governor of the affected state(s), whether arising from natural disaster,
technological hazard, man-made disaster, civil emergency aspects of resource shortages, community disorders, insurgency, or
enemy attack.
This compact shall also provide for mutual cooperation in emergency-related exercises, testing, or other training activities
using equipment and personnel simulating performance of any aspect of giving and receiving of aid by Party States or subdivisions
of Party States during emergencies, such actions occurring outside actual declared emergency periods. Mutual assistance in
this compact may include the use of the states" National Guard forces, either in accordance with the National Guard Mutual
Assistance Compact or by mutual agreement between states.
ARTICLE II -- GENERAL IMPLEMENTATION
Each Party State entering into this compact recognizes many emergencies transcend political jurisdictional boundaries and
that intergovernmental coordination is essential in managing these and other emergencies under this compact. Each Party State
further recognizes that there will be emergencies which require immediate access and present procedures to apply outside resources
to make a prompt and effective response to such an emergency. This is because few, if any, individual states have all the
resources they may need in all types of emergencies or the capability of delivering resources to areas where emergencies exist.
The prompt, full, and effective utilization of resources of the Party States, including any resources on hand or available
from the Federal Government or any other source, that are essential to the safety, care, and welfare of the people in the
event of any emergency or disaster declared by a Party State, shall be the underlying principle on which all articles of this
compact shall be understood. On behalf of the governor of each Party State participating in the compact, the legally designated
state official who is assigned responsibility for emergency management will be responsible for formulation of the appropriate
interstate mutual aid plans and procedures necessary to implement this compact.
ARTICLE III -- PARTY STATE RESPONSIBILITIES
(a) It shall be the responsibility of each Party State to formulate procedural plans and programs for interstate cooperation
in the performance of responsibilities listed in this article. In formulating such plans, and in carrying them out, the Party
State, insofar as practical shall:
(i) Review individual state hazard analyses and, to the extent reasonably possible, determine all those potential emergencies
the Party State might jointly suffer, whether due to natural disaster, technological hazard, man-made disaster, civil emergency
aspects of resource shortages, community disorders, insurgency, or enemy attack.
(ii) Review Party States' individual emergency plans and develop a plan which will determine the mechanism for the interstate
management and provision of assistance concerning any potential emergency.
(iii) Develop interstate procedures to fill identified gaps and to resolve any identified inconsistencies or overlaps in existing
or developed plans.
(iv) Assist in warning communities adjacent to or crossing the state boundaries.
(v) Protect and assure uninterrupted delivery of services, medicines, water, food, energy and fuel, search and rescue, and
critical lifeline equipment, services and resources, both human and material.
(vi) Inventory and set procedures for the interstate loan and delivery of human and material resources, together with procedures
for reimbursement or forgiveness.
(vii) Provide, to the extent authorized by law, for temporary suspension of any statutes or ordinances that restrict the implementation
of the above responsibilities.
(b) The authorized representative of a Party State may request assistance of another Party State by contacting the authorized
representative of that state. The provisions of this agreement shall only apply to requests for assistance made by and to
authorized representatives. Requests may be verbal or in writing. If verbal, the request shall be confirmed in writing within
30 days of the verbal request. Requests shall provide the following information:
(i) A description of the emergency service function for which assistance is needed, such as but not limited to fire services,
law enforcement, 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.
(ii) The amount and type of personnel, equipment, materials and supplies needed, and a reasonable estimate of the length of
time they will be needed.
(iii) The specific place and time for staging of the assisting party's response and a point of contact at that location.
(c) There shall be frequent consultation between state officials who have assigned emergency management responsibilities and
other appropriate representatives of the Party States with affected jurisdictions and the United States Government, with free
exchange of information, plans, and resource records relating to the emergency capabilities.
ARTICLE IV -- LIMITATIONS
Any Party State requested to render mutual aid or conduct exercises in training for mutual aid shall take such action as is
necessary to provide and make available the resources covered by this compact in accordance with the terms hereof; provided
that it is understood that the state rendering aid may withhold resources to the extent necessary to provide reasonable protections
for such state.
Each Party State shall afford to the emergency forces of any Party State, while operating within its state limits under the
terms and conditions of this compact, the same powers (except that of arrest unless specifically authorized by the receiving
state), duties, rights, and privileges as are afforded forces of the state in which they are performing emergency services.
Emergency forces will continue under the command and control of their regular leaders, but the organizational units will come
under the operational control of the emergency services authorities of the state receiving assistance. These conditions may
be activated, as needed, only subsequent to a declaration of a state of emergency or disaster by the governor of the Party
State that is to receive assistance or commencement of exercises or training for mutual aid and shall continue so long as
the exercises or training for mutual aid are in progress, the state of emergency or disaster remains in effect or loaned resources
remain in the receiving state(s), whichever is longer.
ARTICLE V -- LICENSES AND PERMITS
Whenever any person holds a license, certificate, or other permit issued by any Party State evidencing the meeting of qualifications
of professional, mechanical, or other skill, and when such assistance is requested by the receiving Party State, such person
shall be deemed licensed, certified, or permitted by the state requesting assistance to render aid involving such skill to
meet a declared emergency or disaster, subject to such limitations and conditions as the governor of the requesting state
may prescribe by executive order or otherwise.
ARTICLE VI -- LIABILITY
Officers or employees of a Party State rendering aid in another state pursuant to this compact shall be considered agents
of the requesting state for tort liability and immunity purposes; and no Party State or its officers or employees rendering
aid in another state pursuant to this compact shall be liable on account of any act or omission in good faith on the part
of such forces while so engaged or on account of the maintenance or use of any equipment or supplies in connection therewith.
Good faith in this article shall not include willful misconduct, gross negligence, or recklessness.
ARTICLE VII -- SUPPLEMENTARY AGREEMENTS
In as much as it is probable that the pattern and detail of the machinery for mutual aid among two or more states may differ
from that among the states that are party hereto, this instrument contains elements of a broad base common to all states,
and nothing herein contained shall preclude any state from entering into supplementary agreements with another state or affect
any other agreements already in force between states.
Supplementary agreements may comprehend, but shall not be limited to, provision for evacuation and reception of injured and
other persons and the exchange of medical, fire, police, public utility, reconnaissance, welfare, transportation and communications
personnel, and equipment and supplies.
ARTICLE VIII -- COMPENSATION
Each Party State shall provide for the payment of compensation and death benefits to injured members of the emergency forces
of the state and representatives of deceased members of such forces in case such members sustain injuries or are killed while
rendering aid pursuant to this compact, in the same manner and on the same terms as if the injury or death were sustained
within their own state.
ARTICLE IX -- REIMBURSEMENT
Any Party State rendering aid in another state pursuant to this compact shall be reimbursed by the Party State receiving such
aid for any loss or damage or expense incurred in the operation of any equipment and the provisions of any service in answering
a request for aid and for the costs incurred in connection with such requests; provided, that any aiding Party State may assume
in whole or in part such loss, damage, expense, or other cost, or may loan such equipment or donate such services to the receiving
Party State without charge or cost; and provided further, that any two or more Party States may enter into supplementary agreements
establishing a different allocation of costs among those states. Article VIII expenses shall not be reimbursable under this
provision.
ARTICLE X -- EVACUATION
Plans for the orderly evacuation and interstate reception of portions of the civilian population as the result of any emergency
or disaster of sufficient proportions to so warrant, shall be worked out and maintained between the Party State and the emergency
management/services directors of the various jurisdictions where any type of incident requiring evacuation might occur. Such
plans shall be put into effect by request of the state from which evacuees might come and shall include the manner of transporting
such evacuees, the number of evacuees to be received in different areas, the manner in which food, clothing, housing, and
medical care will be provided, the registration of the evacuees, the proving of facilities for the notification of relatives
or friends, and the forwarding of such evacuees to other areas or the bringing in of additional materials, supplies, and all
other relevant factors. Such plans shall provide that the Party State receiving evacuees and the Party State from which the
evacuees come shall mutually agree as to reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred in receiving and caring for such
evacuees, for expenditures for transportation, food, clothing, medicines and medical care, and like items. Such expenditures
shall be reimbursed as agreed by the Party State from which the evacuees come. After the termination of the emergency or disaster,
the Party State from which the evacuees come shall assume the responsibility for the ultimate support or repatriation or such
evacuees.
ARTICLE XI -- IMPLEMENTATION
A. This compact shall become operative immediately upon its enactment into law by any two (2) states; thereafter, this compact
shall become effective as to any other state upon its enactment by such state.
B. Any Party State may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take
effect until 30 days after the governor of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of such withdrawal of the governors
of all other Party States. Such action shall not relieve the withdrawing state from obligations assumed hereunder prior to
the effective date of withdrawal.
C. Duly authenticated copies of this compact and of such supplementary agreements as may be entered into shall, at the time
of their approval, be deposited with each of the Party States and with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other appropriate
agencies of the United States Government.
ARTICLE XII -- VALIDITY
This Act shall be construed to effectuate the purposes stated in Article I hereof. If any provision of this compact is declared
unconstitutional, or the applicability thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the constitutionality of the
remainder of this Act and the applicability thereof to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
ARTICLE XIII -- ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
Nothing in this compact shall authorize or permit the use of military force by the National Guard of a state at any place
outside that state in any emergency for which the President is authorized by law to call into federal service the militia,
or for any purpose for which the use of the Army or the Air Force would in the absence of express statutory authorization
be prohibited under Section 1385 of Title 18, United States Code.
70 Del. Laws, c. 413, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;
Military and Civil Defense
Civil Defense
§ 3402. Construction of chapter.
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as a limitation of powers granted in any other law to enter into interstate
compacts or other agreements relating to civil defense in an emergency or impairing in any respect the force and effect thereof.
70 Del. Laws, c. 413, § 1.;
Military and Civil Defense
Civil Defense
§ 3403. Future compacts, governing law.
To the extent that a prospective Party State has adopted an Emergency Management Assistance Compact in conformity with the
language of this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall supersede and override the provisions of Chapter 33 of this
title.
The General Assembly of this State ratifies the following compact made and entered into by and between participating member
states legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COMPACT
ARTICLE 1 -- PURPOSE AND AUTHORITIES
This compact is made and entered into by and between the participating member states which enacted this compact (hereinafter
the "Party States"). For the purposes of this agreement, the term "states" is taken to mean the several states, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia and all U.S. territorial possessions.
The purpose of this compact is to provide for mutual assistance between the Party States entering into this compact in managing
any emergency or disaster that is duly declared by the governor of the affected state(s), whether arising from natural disaster,
technological hazard, man-made disaster, civil emergency aspects of resource shortages, community disorders, insurgency, or
enemy attack.
This compact shall also provide for mutual cooperation in emergency-related exercises, testing, or other training activities
using equipment and personnel simulating performance of any aspect of giving and receiving of aid by Party States or subdivisions
of Party States during emergencies, such actions occurring outside actual declared emergency periods. Mutual assistance in
this compact may include the use of the states" National Guard forces, either in accordance with the National Guard Mutual
Assistance Compact or by mutual agreement between states.
ARTICLE II -- GENERAL IMPLEMENTATION
Each Party State entering into this compact recognizes many emergencies transcend political jurisdictional boundaries and
that intergovernmental coordination is essential in managing these and other emergencies under this compact. Each Party State
further recognizes that there will be emergencies which require immediate access and present procedures to apply outside resources
to make a prompt and effective response to such an emergency. This is because few, if any, individual states have all the
resources they may need in all types of emergencies or the capability of delivering resources to areas where emergencies exist.
The prompt, full, and effective utilization of resources of the Party States, including any resources on hand or available
from the Federal Government or any other source, that are essential to the safety, care, and welfare of the people in the
event of any emergency or disaster declared by a Party State, shall be the underlying principle on which all articles of this
compact shall be understood. On behalf of the governor of each Party State participating in the compact, the legally designated
state official who is assigned responsibility for emergency management will be responsible for formulation of the appropriate
interstate mutual aid plans and procedures necessary to implement this compact.
ARTICLE III -- PARTY STATE RESPONSIBILITIES
(a) It shall be the responsibility of each Party State to formulate procedural plans and programs for interstate cooperation
in the performance of responsibilities listed in this article. In formulating such plans, and in carrying them out, the Party
State, insofar as practical shall:
(i) Review individual state hazard analyses and, to the extent reasonably possible, determine all those potential emergencies
the Party State might jointly suffer, whether due to natural disaster, technological hazard, man-made disaster, civil emergency
aspects of resource shortages, community disorders, insurgency, or enemy attack.
(ii) Review Party States' individual emergency plans and develop a plan which will determine the mechanism for the interstate
management and provision of assistance concerning any potential emergency.
(iii) Develop interstate procedures to fill identified gaps and to resolve any identified inconsistencies or overlaps in existing
or developed plans.
(iv) Assist in warning communities adjacent to or crossing the state boundaries.
(v) Protect and assure uninterrupted delivery of services, medicines, water, food, energy and fuel, search and rescue, and
critical lifeline equipment, services and resources, both human and material.
(vi) Inventory and set procedures for the interstate loan and delivery of human and material resources, together with procedures
for reimbursement or forgiveness.
(vii) Provide, to the extent authorized by law, for temporary suspension of any statutes or ordinances that restrict the implementation
of the above responsibilities.
(b) The authorized representative of a Party State may request assistance of another Party State by contacting the authorized
representative of that state. The provisions of this agreement shall only apply to requests for assistance made by and to
authorized representatives. Requests may be verbal or in writing. If verbal, the request shall be confirmed in writing within
30 days of the verbal request. Requests shall provide the following information:
(i) A description of the emergency service function for which assistance is needed, such as but not limited to fire services,
law enforcement, 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.
(ii) The amount and type of personnel, equipment, materials and supplies needed, and a reasonable estimate of the length of
time they will be needed.
(iii) The specific place and time for staging of the assisting party's response and a point of contact at that location.
(c) There shall be frequent consultation between state officials who have assigned emergency management responsibilities and
other appropriate representatives of the Party States with affected jurisdictions and the United States Government, with free
exchange of information, plans, and resource records relating to the emergency capabilities.
ARTICLE IV -- LIMITATIONS
Any Party State requested to render mutual aid or conduct exercises in training for mutual aid shall take such action as is
necessary to provide and make available the resources covered by this compact in accordance with the terms hereof; provided
that it is understood that the state rendering aid may withhold resources to the extent necessary to provide reasonable protections
for such state.
Each Party State shall afford to the emergency forces of any Party State, while operating within its state limits under the
terms and conditions of this compact, the same powers (except that of arrest unless specifically authorized by the receiving
state), duties, rights, and privileges as are afforded forces of the state in which they are performing emergency services.
Emergency forces will continue under the command and control of their regular leaders, but the organizational units will come
under the operational control of the emergency services authorities of the state receiving assistance. These conditions may
be activated, as needed, only subsequent to a declaration of a state of emergency or disaster by the governor of the Party
State that is to receive assistance or commencement of exercises or training for mutual aid and shall continue so long as
the exercises or training for mutual aid are in progress, the state of emergency or disaster remains in effect or loaned resources
remain in the receiving state(s), whichever is longer.
ARTICLE V -- LICENSES AND PERMITS
Whenever any person holds a license, certificate, or other permit issued by any Party State evidencing the meeting of qualifications
of professional, mechanical, or other skill, and when such assistance is requested by the receiving Party State, such person
shall be deemed licensed, certified, or permitted by the state requesting assistance to render aid involving such skill to
meet a declared emergency or disaster, subject to such limitations and conditions as the governor of the requesting state
may prescribe by executive order or otherwise.
ARTICLE VI -- LIABILITY
Officers or employees of a Party State rendering aid in another state pursuant to this compact shall be considered agents
of the requesting state for tort liability and immunity purposes; and no Party State or its officers or employees rendering
aid in another state pursuant to this compact shall be liable on account of any act or omission in good faith on the part
of such forces while so engaged or on account of the maintenance or use of any equipment or supplies in connection therewith.
Good faith in this article shall not include willful misconduct, gross negligence, or recklessness.
ARTICLE VII -- SUPPLEMENTARY AGREEMENTS
In as much as it is probable that the pattern and detail of the machinery for mutual aid among two or more states may differ
from that among the states that are party hereto, this instrument contains elements of a broad base common to all states,
and nothing herein contained shall preclude any state from entering into supplementary agreements with another state or affect
any other agreements already in force between states.
Supplementary agreements may comprehend, but shall not be limited to, provision for evacuation and reception of injured and
other persons and the exchange of medical, fire, police, public utility, reconnaissance, welfare, transportation and communications
personnel, and equipment and supplies.
ARTICLE VIII -- COMPENSATION
Each Party State shall provide for the payment of compensation and death benefits to injured members of the emergency forces
of the state and representatives of deceased members of such forces in case such members sustain injuries or are killed while
rendering aid pursuant to this compact, in the same manner and on the same terms as if the injury or death were sustained
within their own state.
ARTICLE IX -- REIMBURSEMENT
Any Party State rendering aid in another state pursuant to this compact shall be reimbursed by the Party State receiving such
aid for any loss or damage or expense incurred in the operation of any equipment and the provisions of any service in answering
a request for aid and for the costs incurred in connection with such requests; provided, that any aiding Party State may assume
in whole or in part such loss, damage, expense, or other cost, or may loan such equipment or donate such services to the receiving
Party State without charge or cost; and provided further, that any two or more Party States may enter into supplementary agreements
establishing a different allocation of costs among those states. Article VIII expenses shall not be reimbursable under this
provision.
ARTICLE X -- EVACUATION
Plans for the orderly evacuation and interstate reception of portions of the civilian population as the result of any emergency
or disaster of sufficient proportions to so warrant, shall be worked out and maintained between the Party State and the emergency
management/services directors of the various jurisdictions where any type of incident requiring evacuation might occur. Such
plans shall be put into effect by request of the state from which evacuees might come and shall include the manner of transporting
such evacuees, the number of evacuees to be received in different areas, the manner in which food, clothing, housing, and
medical care will be provided, the registration of the evacuees, the proving of facilities for the notification of relatives
or friends, and the forwarding of such evacuees to other areas or the bringing in of additional materials, supplies, and all
other relevant factors. Such plans shall provide that the Party State receiving evacuees and the Party State from which the
evacuees come shall mutually agree as to reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred in receiving and caring for such
evacuees, for expenditures for transportation, food, clothing, medicines and medical care, and like items. Such expenditures
shall be reimbursed as agreed by the Party State from which the evacuees come. After the termination of the emergency or disaster,
the Party State from which the evacuees come shall assume the responsibility for the ultimate support or repatriation or such
evacuees.
ARTICLE XI -- IMPLEMENTATION
A. This compact shall become operative immediately upon its enactment into law by any two (2) states; thereafter, this compact
shall become effective as to any other state upon its enactment by such state.
B. Any Party State may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take
effect until 30 days after the governor of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of such withdrawal of the governors
of all other Party States. Such action shall not relieve the withdrawing state from obligations assumed hereunder prior to
the effective date of withdrawal.
C. Duly authenticated copies of this compact and of such supplementary agreements as may be entered into shall, at the time
of their approval, be deposited with each of the Party States and with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other appropriate
agencies of the United States Government.
ARTICLE XII -- VALIDITY
This Act shall be construed to effectuate the purposes stated in Article I hereof. If any provision of this compact is declared
unconstitutional, or the applicability thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the constitutionality of the
remainder of this Act and the applicability thereof to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
ARTICLE XIII -- ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
Nothing in this compact shall authorize or permit the use of military force by the National Guard of a state at any place
outside that state in any emergency for which the President is authorized by law to call into federal service the militia,
or for any purpose for which the use of the Army or the Air Force would in the absence of express statutory authorization
be prohibited under Section 1385 of Title 18, United States Code.
70 Del. Laws, c. 413, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;
Military and Civil Defense
Civil Defense
§ 3402. Construction of chapter.
Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as a limitation of powers granted in any other law to enter into interstate
compacts or other agreements relating to civil defense in an emergency or impairing in any respect the force and effect thereof.
70 Del. Laws, c. 413, § 1.;
Military and Civil Defense
Civil Defense
§ 3403. Future compacts, governing law.
To the extent that a prospective Party State has adopted an Emergency Management Assistance Compact in conformity with the
language of this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall supersede and override the provisions of Chapter 33 of this
title.