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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 27, 2008 No. 08-067 KANSAS SENDS HELP TO IOWA UNDER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COMPACT Kansas is sending some assistance to flood-soaked Iowa under the Emergency
Management Assistance Compact. The compact is a multistate, mutual aid
agreement that facilitates the deployment of out-of-state assistance to
states with major disasters. "Kansans know first-hand what it's like to be fighting to recover
from destructive storms," said Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. "We've
appreciated the help from other states in the past and we're honored to
step up and help our Iowa neighbors." Matt Mercer, Southwest Region Homeland Security Coordinator, deployed
last week to assist in Iowa's State Emergency Operations Center. Alan
Radcliffe, Franklin County emergency manager; Marvin Grimes, Anderson
County emergency manager; and Don Button, Grant County emergency manager,
will deploy to Iowa for a two-week rotation along with building inspector
Bobbi Strait from Marion County. The Kansas Division of Emergency Management
is also seeking additional building inspectors willing to deploy. "We're pleased that we can provide this assistance to the people
of Iowa," said Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, director of Kansas Division
of Emergency Management and the adjutant general. "So many states
gave assistance to Kansas during the four federally declared disasters
we had last year. Now it's our turn to help someone else and we're glad
to do it." EMAC status gives legal protection to officially deployed workers who
may be injured while on assignment. The agreement also addresses issues
such as state-to-state reimbursement for other costs associated with response
and recovery measures. Kansas has given assistance to other states before under the EMAC agreement.
In 2000, assistance was given to Montana to combat forest fires and also
to Oklahoma to battle range fires. Following 9/11, Kansas personnel were
sent to New York to assist with donations management. Kansans were also
deployed to the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita
in 2005. -30- |
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