CLANTON- Governor Kay Ivey and Director Art Faulkner have been notified that the Alabama Emergency Management Agency has been granted full accreditation by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). EMAP recognizes the ability of emergency management programs to bring together personnel, resources and communications from a variety of agencies and organizations in preparation for and in response to an emergency, in addition to obtaining the ability to measure those capabilities.
“I want to congratulate the Alabama Emergency Management Agency on once again being fully accredited by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program,” Governor Ivey said. “Alabama must be ready whenever disasters strike and AEMA is proving that it is ready. This is an example of how we are making Alabama the best state that it can possibly be.”
EMAP accreditation is achieved after applicants demonstrate through self-assessment, documentation and peer assessment verification that its program meets the Emergency Management Standard. The program uses the accreditation to prove the capabilities of their disaster preparedness and response systems. Accreditation is valid for five years and the program must maintain compliance with the emergency management standard and is reassessed to maintain accredited status.
“The Alabama Emergency Management Agency is a coordinating agency which means this accreditation would not be possible without the resources and assistance from our state partners, private partners and non-governmental organizations,” Director Faulkner said. “In recent years Alabama has experienced challenging disasters such as tornado outbreaks and ice storms. These events taught AEMA the importance of working as a team and it has validated the essential role our partners play in the success of the state’s response to disasters. I am honored that the EMAP Commission recognize Alabama’s hard work and has granted AEMA full accreditation.”
The EMAP Commission voted on the State of Alabama’s accreditation at its meeting on April 27, 2017. A copy of the EMAP accreditation letter can be found here. AEMA also received accreditation in 2008.