Vermont Business Magazine Vermont’s emergency management program has once again been accredited by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP), Governor Peter Shumlin and Division of Emergency Management & Homeland Security (DEMHS) Director Christopher Herrick announced today.DEMHS previously achieved accreditation in 2010. EMAP is a voluntary program in which emergency response organizations show their ability to respond to a disaster effectively. Vermont met a set of 64 standards involving hazard identification, prevention, incident management, communications and warning, training, and others.
“I want to congratulate everyone at DEMHS who worked to achieve this accreditation,” Shumlin said. “When we have a natural disaster or emergency, Vermonters see the very tangible work being done by emergency management officials. What is less noticeable is the work they do year-round to prepare to act quickly and effectively when emergencies do happen. This is a good opportunity to thank them for their continued work, in good times and bad.”
“Re-accreditation is no small feat and it involves lots of individuals, both within DEMHS and from partners on the state and local level,” VT Division of Emergency Management & Homeland Security Director Christopher Herrick said. “Without current plans, training, equipment, exercises, and other asset Vermont could not have retained this significant distinction.”
Vermont’s state emergency management program involves several state agencies involved in emergency response. Those agencies bring their expertise to different aspects of planning and response. The Departments of Public Safety, Health, Environmental Conservation, Buildings and General Services, and the Agencies of Transportation, Human Service, Agriculture, and Natural Resources are only a few of the state agencies that contribute to the emergency planning and response.
“Emergency management is an effort that depends on a wide variety of skills,” Director Herrick said. “We’re fortunate to have relationships with all state agencies that all understand the importance of collaboration in ensuring the safety of Vermonters. This accreditation is testament to that team approach.”
Fewer than 30 states are accredited by EMAP. The accreditation process began in 2014 and assessors visited Vermont in February of this year to conduct interviews with responders and review emergency plans. EMAP issues a pass or fail result based on a state meeting all criteria. 30 states are currently accredited through EMAP.
For more on the Emergency Management Accreditation Program visit http://www.emaponline.org/.