PNEMA Pacific Northwest Emergency Management Arrangement Pat Quealey Emergency Management BC
Topics of Discussion
Major Features of PNEMA Enhanced coordination of emergency preparedness, response, and recovery through a regional approach. Established the Western Regional Emergency Management Advisory Committee (Annex A) Set of eight cooperative principles. Replaced a series of mutual aid agreements and memorandum of understanding (MOUs) Allowed for additional annexes.
PNEMA Commitment Coordinate and maintain supporting plans. Participate in or observe regional exercises. Provide emergency and disaster support
PNEMA Pros and Cons BENEFITS LIMITATIONS Maximizes use of available regional resources. Does not replace Federal support. Expedites timely and flexible cross-border emergency preparedness, response, and recovery deployment. Enhances Pacific Northwest regional relationships. Does not permit use of National Guard resources. Does not alter operational direction and control.
Potential Applications Cross-border planning and exercise Search and rescue Emergency operations and support center Medical support Damage assessment Debris clearance Disaster recovery administration Resource and donation management Community outreach Security support
Cooperative Principles 1) Each signatory may seek the assistance of another. 2) May request exemption of others laws that impede emergency measures. 3) Will use best efforts to facilitate movement. 4) Will use best efforts to provide others citizen health and social services. 5) Avoid levying taxes or fees on mutual aid activities. 6) Costs for assistance will not exceed what the provider normally pays. 7) Exchange of lists and plans. 8) Invites others to observe or participate in exercises.
Other Mutual Aid Agreements Memorandum of Cooperation between British Columbia and Washington State for oil pollution. MOU between British Columbia and Washington State for wildfire suppression. Compact between Oregon and Washington States for use of offender labor in wildfire suppression. Agreement between Oregon and Washington States for reciprocal fire protection.
Annex B Uses the language and articles of EMAC. Initially introduced in 2002. Presented to the WREMAC in 2004. Signed in 2006-2007. Governance structure approved in 2007. Operations Manual approved in 2008.
Annex B: Select Provisions Article IV the signatory rendering aid may withhold or recall resources to the extent necessary to provide reasonable protection for itself. Article V license, certificate, or other permit such person is deemed to be licensed, certified, or permitted by the signatory requesting assistance Article VIII signatory shall provide for the payment of worker s compensation and death benefits to injured members of the emergency forces of that signatory in the same manner and on the same terms as if the injury were sustained within their own signatories. Article IX..any signatory rendering aid be reimbursed by the signatory receiving such aid for any loss or damage to or expense incurred Note: PNEMA does not require a declaration of emergency in order to activate a response it is activated by mutual agreement of two or more signatories.
PNEMA Governance Structure WREMAC PNEMA Executive Task Force Chair International Coordination Group Alaska British Columbia Idaho PNEMA Executive Task Force Chair-Elect Oregon Washington Yukon
Governance Structure Principles Respect for national sovereignty. A quorum is 66% of members including at least one province. All votes must be unanimous. Simplicity. Two officers: Chair and Chair-Elect Annual meeting at WREMAC and periodic telephonic meetings.
PNEMA A-Teams Coordinate PNEMA operations in the jurisdiction, or Deploy at the request of an impacted jurisdiction (state or province) Serve as a liaison between the requesting jurisdiction and potential assisting jurisdictions Operate from an impacted jurisdiction s EOC or Command and Control Center Coordinate the provision of assistance as an agent of the impacted jurisdiction The REQ-A is the vehicle for the provision of that assistance
Catastrophic Operational Employment International Coordination Group Executive Operations Logistics Finance/Administration Planning
Summary PNEMA is built upon existing regional relationships and makes them stronger. PNEMA does not supplant existing protocols such as those used for wild land fires. PNEMA operational protocols are designed to be simple, easy to use, and familiar.
Thank You Pat Quealey Assistant Deputy Minister EMBC Pat.Quealey@gov.bc.ca www.embc.gov.bc.ca