Two EM Programs Achieve National Accreditation; Two States Achieve Re-Accreditation

LEXINGTON, Ky. - May 17, 2013 - PRLog -- The State of Kansas and the City of Colorado Springs, Colorado achieve accreditation today by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). In addition the States of Georgia and Tennessee emergency management programs achieve re-accreditation.

“In light of recent floods, fires and terrorist acts, it’s never been more important to demonstrate and document the ability to coordinate emergency plans and actions. These programs serve as role models in the profession of emergency management,” Barb Graff, Director of Seattle Office of Emergency Management and Chair of the EMAP Commission.

Emergency management accreditation represents a significant achievement.  The emergency management program documents how they meet national standards for their disaster preparedness and response systems.  To achieve accreditation, emergency management programs document compliance with a set of nationally recognized standards used in the accreditation process and undergo a peer-review assessment by EMAP trained assessors.

Accreditation is a means of demonstrating, through program assessment, documentation and on-site assessment by an independent peer review team, that a program meets national standards.  Accreditation is valid for five years from the date the EMAP Commission grants accreditation.  Accredited programs must maintain compliance with EMAP standards and be reassessed in five years to maintain accredited status.

Re-accreditation proves just as significant. Five years ago, the States of Tennessee and Georgia achieved EMAP Accreditation. By maintaining their accredited status throughout the years, those programs proved that they attest to the nationally recognized standards, Emergency Management Standard, and successfully maintain accreditation status to achieve re-accreditation this year.

EMAP is a voluntary accreditation process for emergency management programs that coordinate preparedness and response activities for disasters based on national standards. EMAP recognizes the ability of emergency management programs to bring together personnel, resources and communications from a variety of agencies and organizations in preparation for and in response to an emergency, in addition to obtaining the ability to measure those capabilities. This forms the foundation of the nation’s emergency preparedness system. EMAP is the only accreditation process for emergency management programs.  

Working collaboratively since 1997, state, local and federal emergency managers developed EMAP to provide quality standards and a process for determining compliance.  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 16 areas, including: planning; resource management; training; exercises, evaluations, and corrective actions; and communications and warning.