Massachusetts Receives Accreditation in Emergency Management

By Consulting Specifying Engineer Staff February 28, 2007

Massachusetts is the eighth state to be accredited by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). The program is a voluntary national accreditation process based on NFPA 1600, “Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Continuity Programs .”

NFPA 1600 assesses current disaster and emergency programs; develops, implements and maintains programs to mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from disaster and emergencies. State, territorial and local government programs earn EMAP accreditation by ensuring that their disaster preparedness and response plans meet national standards. The accreditation process involves assessment of emergency management in 15 areas, including: planning, resource management, training, exercises, evaluations and corrective actions, and communications and warning.

Other states that are EMAP accredited are Arizona, Florida, Illinois, North Dakota, Montana, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Washington, D.C., also has received EMAP status.