The state of Vermont hereby adopts the emergency management assistance compact. The purpose of this compact is to provide mutual aid and assistance among the party states for response to and management of any disaster or emergency declared by the governor of any affected party state. This compact also provides mutual cooperation among the party states in emergency-related training, exercises, testing, or any other activity related to preparation for an actual declared disaster or emergency. Mutual assistance under this compact may include the use of the national guard force of any party state, either in accordance with the national guard mutual assistance compact or by agreement between states.
Party state means a state or jurisdiction that is an authorized participant in the compact.
Disasters or emergencies are rarely limited to occurring within political jurisdictional boundaries, making intergovernmental coordination and cooperation essential to effective management of most disasters or emergencies. The nature of a disaster or emergency frequently requires immediate access to additional resources in order to respond promptly and effectively. Most states do not have available all the resources needed to respond to every emergency. The governor of each party state, or the governor s designee, shall adopt rules that include the appropriate interstate mutual aid plans and procedures formulated in cooperation with other party states necessary to implement this compact. Each party state shall be responsible for formulating procedural plans and programs for interstate cooperation in order to carry out the responsibilities required by the compact.