Pennsylvania to Send Assistance after Maryland EMAC Request

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 29, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) announced today that Maryland accepted its offer of resources to assist with the State of Emergency currently active in the City of Baltimore. Pennsylvania offered assistance in response to an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request that was put out by Maryland this week.

"Our troopers and emergency personnel are sources of pride for our commonwealth," Governor Tom Wolf said. "Our thoughts will be with them and their families as they help our neighbors in Baltimore during this difficult time. We hope that with their assistance, calm will prevail and the Baltimore community can begin to move forward."

PEMA will deploy an EMAC-A team member, who is trained and certified as an emergency management assistance compact administrator and will help Maryland expedite out of state resources if needed.

"EMAC is an important compact between states to ensure personnel is available when needed," said Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Richard Flinn. "We have confidence our personnel will be able to help our neighbors in their time of need."

The deployment of approximately 300 PSP personnel and other assets to the City of Baltimore is expected to begin later this week. Maryland will reimburse Pennsylvania's costs as delineated in the EMAC request.

"Pennsylvania will be prepared to send troopers and personnel from stations across the commonwealth to assist law enforcement in the City of Baltimore," said Acting State Police Commissioner Marcus L. Brown. "Our troopers are highly trained to keep communities safe and secure and we are going to help the people of Baltimore and support their law enforcement efforts."

EMAC, which is administered by the National Emergency Management Association, enables a disaster-impacted state to request and receive assistance from other member states quickly and efficiently. EMAC has been ratified by Congress and is law in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In the fall of 2012, Pennsylvania State Police responded to an EMAC request by New Jersey in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. There, troopers assisted state and local law enforcement and helped with cleanup operations.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jeff Sheridan – 717.783.1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

Related Links

http://www.governor.state.pa.us