NIMS Activity 21: Response asset inventory for mutual aid requests

When applicable, schools and IHEs will utilize response asset inventory for intrastate/interstate mutual aid requests [such as Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)], training, exercises, and incidents/planned events.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Activity 21: Utilize response asset inventory for intrastate/interstate mutual aid requests [such as Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)], training, exercises, and incidents/planned events.

When applicable, schools and IHEs will utilize response asset inventory for intrastate/interstate mutual aid requests [such as Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)], training, exercises, and incidents/planned events.

Association to NIMS

NIMS systems work to help ensure that the flow of necessary resources (such as personnel, equipment, or supplies) is fluid and matches the needs of the incident. NIMS defines standardized mechanisms and establishes the resource management processes to identify requirements, order and acquire, mobilize, track and report, recover and demobilize, reimburse, and inventory resources. These NIMS systems create mechanisms for emergency management teams and their affiliated organizations to work collectively by offering a consistent and common approach to preparedness and pre-planned process for accessing resources in the event of an emergency.

Mutual aid agreements, assistance agreements, and partner agreements between agencies, organizations, and jurisdictions can provide a mechanism to quickly obtain emergency assistance in the form of personnel, equipment, materials, and other associated services. The primary objective is to facilitate rapid, short-term deployment of emergency support prior to, during, and after an incident.

Implementation Guidance

The use of or participation in asset inventory systems combined with agreements is intended to facilitate rapid, short-term deployment of emergency support prior to, during, and after an incident and supports the overall NIMS mission, framework, and approach. Although many LEAs schools and IHEs will not need to be directly involved in such a compact (as this tends to occur through State emergency managers), it is important that they work with their community partners to jointly determine any applicable roles or any indirect role they may have.

Therefore, those K-12 schools and IHEs who do not utilize an inventory asset system should look to participate in their partners' system, if applicable. There may be an opportunity for a school or IHE to be a part of a State and or local agency partner's asset inventory system that will facilitate intrastate/interstate mutual aid requests [such as Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)], training, exercises, and incidents/planned events. Although K-12 schools and IHEs may not manage a comprehensive asset inventory system independently, they may be able to participate in a meaningful system through a collaborative with their partners at the local or State level. As K-12 schools and IHEs develop and enhance comprehensive all-hazards emergency management plans, they should collaboratively consider resource management and the schools' or IHEs' use of or role in the collective asset inventory system of their community or State.

Schools and IHEs should consider their potential response needs when working with and coordinating with their Sate education agency as well as their State emergency management authority as they may be the administrators of a State-wide mechanism for quickly obtaining emergency assistance and resources for their local and regional emergency management officials. The state will likely need to assist schools and IHEs if they need to access assistance (e.g., personnel, equipment, materials, services) in response to a large-scale emergency incident. In order for the State to do this, it is helpful if they know the currently existing assets of the school or IHE.

One example of a mutual assistance program is the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), an interstate mutual aid agreement that allows States to assist one another in responding to all kinds of natural and manmade disasters. EMAC is administered by the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) and supports a Governor of a disaster-impacted state so that they request and receive assistance from other member states. The Governor's request would reflect its State emergency management teams' assessment and would be aimed at supporting an efficient and effective response. EMAC is supported by pre-established relationships and agreements among members States and establishes a foundation for rapid response by States. Therefore, schools and IHEs may be able to receive assistance through pre-established mechanisms developed by their State Education agency or emergency management agency.

Activities demonstrating schools and IHEs utilize response asset inventory for intrastate/interstate mutual aid requests [such as Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)], training, exercises, and incidents/planned events.