Programs Achieve National Emergency Management Accreditation

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Oct. 8, 2013 - PRLog -- Congratulations to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, States of North Carolina and South Carolina, and Orange County, Florida for achieving re-accreditation with the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP).

"Accreditation is a hallmark of accountability to the community, stakeholders, and elected officials - the seal of approval from professional peers," Barb Graff, Director of Seattle Office of Emergency Management and Chair of the EMAP Commission.

Emergency management accreditation represents a significant achievement as a means of demonstrating that a program meets industry standards, Emergency Management Standard, for their disaster preparedness and response systems. The intent of the standards and the accreditation process is to promote consistent quality in emergency management programs. Thus, providing preparedness sustainability to the community and public infrastructure these programs serve. To achieve accreditation, emergency management programs document compliance to the standards and undergo a peer-review assessment by EMAP trained assessors. Accreditation is valid for five years from the date the EMAP Commission grants accreditation.

Reaccreditation proves just as significant. “These programs serve as role models in the profession of emergency management,” Graff stated. Five years ago, these programs achieved EMAP Accreditation. By maintaining their accredited status throughout the years, those programs proved that they attest to the industry standards and successfully maintain accreditation status to achieve reaccreditation this year.

EMAP is a voluntary accreditation process for emergency management programs that coordinate preparedness and response activities for disasters based on industry standards. The Emergency Management Standard by EMAP creates a structure for strategic planning for improvement coupled with methodical, verified assessment by experienced peers from other jurisdictions, which results in stronger capabilities and accountability. The EMAP process evaluates emergency management programs on compliance with requirements in standards that include: planning, resource management, training, exercises, evaluations and corrective actions, and communications and warning. EMAP is the only accreditation process for emergency management programs.