Title
Agenda Item:
Approval of Homeland Security Region 3 Mutual Aid Agreement
Body
Issue:
Approval of a Mutual Aid Agreement for the sharing of resources during disasters.
Committee Recommendation:
N/A
City Manager's Recommendation:
Move to approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the Homeland Security Region 3 Mutual Aid Agreement.
Staff Contact:
Greg Wright, Deputy Chief, 360.753.8466
Presenter(s):
Greg Wright, Deputy Chief, 360.753.8466
Background and Analysis:
The sharing of resources in the time of disaster is the principle that local and regional Emergency Management plans have been built upon for years. This sharing of resources has become all the more important as we have seen how difficult large events such as Superstorm Sandy can be to manage. We have also seen that smaller, more local events can benefit from the sharing of resources in a timely manner. Having an omnibus mutual aid agreement executed before a disaster is one of the tools Emergency Managers use to protect the citizens.
Homeland Security Region 3, for which this agreement applies, has been in place since late 2001. The region is composed of the cities, counties, and tribes in Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Gray's Harbor and Pacific counties that choose to work together in Emergency Management. The original agreement was signed in 2008 and has reached its expiration. This request is to sign a new agreement for an additional five years. There are no other changes in the agreement.
The Region 3 agreement is an overarching agreement that allows the sharing of any resources that the Emergency Management entities of the signatory jurisdictions have at their disposal. This agreement would be invoked if there were no other more specific agreements for mutual aid in place. Having this agreement in place clears up some of the complex legal discussions that should take place when resources are needed in an emergency. Often, these discussions are overlooked due to the dire need at the time or worse, the needed aid is never sent.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
N/A
Options:
Approve the agreement and direct the Mayor to sign the document.
This agreement is consistent with the City Council's priority to improve effectiveness of government by working together.
Financial Impact:
None. This agreement paves the way for recovery of funds from Federal resources following a federally declared disaster. This agreement would assist the City in documenting costs and potential reimbursement whether Olympia received or provided outside aid.