Mutual Aid Agreements FEMA

Mutual Aid Agreements (MAAs) are an important part of FEMA's efforts to strengthen emergency management capabilities and promote collaboration among emergency responders. FEMA encourages the establishment of MAAs between all levels of government, including federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies, as well as private sector and non-governmental organizations.

FEMA provides guidance and resources to help agencies and jurisdictions establish and implement MAAs. This includes the development of standard operating procedures, training programs, and tools for tracking and managing mutual aid requests and deployments.

FEMA also supports the use of mutual aid resources during disasters and emergencies, and provides reimbursement to agencies and jurisdictions for eligible costs associated with mutual aid deployments through the Public Assistance program.

Overall, mutual aid agreements are an important tool for building and maintaining emergency management capabilities, and FEMA plays an important role in supporting their development and implementation.

 some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to mutual aid agreements and FEMA:

Q: What are mutual aid agreements? 

A: Mutual Aid Agreements (MAAs) are formal agreements between agencies and jurisdictions to provide and receive assistance during emergencies or disasters. These agreements establish a framework for sharing resources and personnel when needed to respond to emergencies or disasters.

Q: Why are mutual aid agreements important? 

A: Mutual aid agreements are important for several reasons. They help to build and maintain emergency management capabilities, promote collaboration among emergency responders, and ensure that resources are available when needed to respond to emergencies or disasters. MAAs also help to reduce duplication of efforts and improve overall efficiency and effectiveness of emergency response.

Q: Who can enter into mutual aid agreements? 

A: Mutual aid agreements can be established between any agencies or jurisdictions, including federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies, as well as private sector and non-governmental organizations.

Q: How does FEMA support mutual aid agreements? 

A: FEMA provides guidance and resources to help agencies and jurisdictions establish and implement MAAs, including the development of standard operating procedures, training programs, and tools for tracking and managing mutual aid requests and deployments. FEMA also supports the use of mutual aid resources during disasters and emergencies and provides reimbursement to agencies and jurisdictions for eligible costs associated with mutual aid deployments through the Public Assistance program.

Q: What types of resources can be shared through mutual aid agreements? 

A: Resources that can be shared through mutual aid agreements include personnel, equipment, supplies, and other resources needed to respond to emergencies or disasters. These may include things like search and rescue teams, ambulances, firefighting equipment, generators, and other critical resources.