Local, State, and Federal Government Partners
The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division works closely with other state agencies, local and federal government, and sometimes other states. During times of disaster, state agency representatives assemble in the state's emergency operations center located at the Joint Forces Headquarters at Camp Dodge in Johnston. The agencies help coordinate state resources in support of local emergency operations. Outside of emergencies, local and state agencies also plan, train and exercise together to improve response capabilities and to try and address procedural issues before an emergency happens.
When disaster strikes, response starts in the affected community or communities. Each county in Iowa has a county emergency management coordinator who facilitates local government and volunteer response operations such as sandbagging, cleanup efforts, and sheltering for families affected by the disaster.
When a community’s ability to respond to a disaster exceeds its capabilities, the county emergency management coordinator will work with local officials and HSEMD to request a Governor’s State of Emergency Disaster Proclamation, which will enable state resources to be used. State resources include equipment, personnel, technical guidance, supplies, and assistance in the form of debris removal, traffic control, levee patrol, security, and transportation. Over 200 Governor’s State of Emergency Disaster Proclamations have been issued since 1983.
When a disaster goes beyond the capabilities of the State, the Governor may request federal assistance through a Presidential Disaster Declaration. When a Presidential Disaster Declaration is granted, HSEMD works with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal agencies to coordinate and deliver aid to affected Iowans, beginning the recovery process.
Additional assistance may be requested through the Iowa Mutual Aid Compact (IMAC), a voluntary instrate program, or through the national Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), which offers state to state assistance. IMAC allows for one political subdivision to assist another political subdivision in a disaster that has been declared either by the local member political subdivision or the governor. The Compact increases each member’s level of emergency preparedness, allowing them to work as a team when disasters are beyond local capabilities or resources. Through EMAC, Iowa has deployed many state and local government resources to other states, including the Gulf Coast following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in September 2005. Iowa is currently serving as the lead EMAC state, coordinating all EMAC requests for the country.