Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM) is assigning emergency response personnel from Kentucky to provide assistance to states expected to be impacted from Hurricane Matthew. In addition to KYEM staff, various emergency response and rescue teams from across the Commonwealth will be assisting in disaster response management and rescue efforts.
On Wednesday, KYEM officials received requests from South Carolina and Florida asking for a volunteer coordinator, public information officers, water rescue teams and incident management teams to support existing personnel. The requests are coordinated and authorized through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC).
EMAC is a state-to-state mutual aid agreement which allows states to request additional disaster response resources and personnel. Under EMAC agreements the requesting state reimburses all associated costs incurred by the provider state.
KYEM officials have been tracking the approaching hurricane and preparing in anticipation of probable EMAC requests.
Kentucky Emergency Management Director, Michael Dossett, stated, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the citizens and first responders that will be impacted by this hurricane event. The Commonwealth is glad to offer any possible assistance to our partner states.”
Additional information regarding EMAC can be found on the KYEM web site at http://www.kyem.ky.gov
(story provided by Kentucky Emergency Management)