Ch. 5

2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

The prompt, full, and effective utilization of resources of the participating states,
including any resources on hand or available from the federal government or any
other source, that are essential to the safety, care, and welfare of the people in the
event of any emergency or disaster declared by a party state, shall be the underlying
principle on which all articles of this compact shall be understood.

On behalf of the Governor of each state participating in the compact, the legally
designated state official who is assigned responsibility for emergency management
will be responsible for formulation of the appropriate interstate mutual aid plans and .
procedures necessary to implement this compact.

(3) Article III. Party State Responsibilities.

(a)       It shall be the responsibility of each party state to formulate
procedural plans and programs for interstate cooperation in the performance of the
responsibilities listed in this article. In formulating such plans, and in carrying them
out, the party states, insofar as practical, shall:

(1)       Review individual state hazards analyses and, to the extent
reasonably possible, determine all those potential emergencies the party states might
jointly suffer, whether due to natural disaster, technological hazard, man-made
disaster, emergency aspects of resources shortages, civil disorders, insurgency, or
enemy attack.

(2)       Review party states' individual emergency plans and develop a
plan which will determine the mechanism for the interstate management and
provision of assistance concerning any potential emergency.

(3)       Develop interstate procedures to fill any identified gaps and to
resolve any identified inconsistencies or overlaps in existing or developed plans.

(4)       Assist in warning communities adjacent to or crossing the
state boundaries.

(5)       Protect and assure uninterrupted delivery of services,
medicines, water, food, energy and fuel, search and rescue, and critical lifeline
equipment, services, and resources, both human and material.

(6)       Inventory and set procedures for the interstate loan and
delivery of human and material resources, together with procedures for
reimbursement or forgiveness.

(7)       Provide, to the extent authorized by law, for temporary
suspension of any statutes or ordinances that restrict the implementation of the
above responsibilities.                                                                     

(b)       The authorized representative of a party state may request
assistance of another party state by contacting the authorized representative of that
state. The provisions of this compact shall apply only to requests for assistance made
by and to authorized representatives. Requests may be verbal or in writing. If verbal,
the request shall be confirmed in writing within 30 days of the verbal request.
Requests shall provide the following information:

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