Journal of Critical Infrastructure Policy
al Emergency Management Assistance Compact ( EMAC ), the regional National Capital Region Mutual Aid Agreement , and the in-state , inter-jurisdictional Maryland Emergency Management Assistance Compact ( MEMAC ). Maryland , Pennsylvania , Washington D . C ., Delaware , Virginia , and West Virginia comprise FEMA Region 3 .
To greater or lesser extent , state emergency management agencies across the country work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders to prepare for , respond to , and recover from disasters . Agencies satisfy this mission by pursuing common interests and coordinating to resolve the consequences of disasters . However , the private sector ’ s critical role in supporting the consequence management activities of emergency management agencies is often overlooked .
At the same time , the business emergency operations center concept is well established at the Federal level . FEMA ’ s National Business Emergency Operations Center ( NBEOC ) is part of the Agency ’ s Office of Response and Recovery , Private Sector Division . It is an operational information sharing structure set up to enhance communication and collaboration with private industry partners and ensure their integration into disaster operations at a strategic and tactical level . When there is an active disaster , NBEOC members have unique lines of communication into FEMA ’ s National Response Coordination Center , activated Regional Response Coordination Centers , and the broader network of emergency management operations , including state partners .
At the state level and in selected local jurisdictions , public private partnerships ( P3s ) are crucial to ensuring community safety . Whether it is a lack of resources , capability limitations , or legal restrictions , government alone cannot meet the full range of community needs during most disasters . Where the government ’ s ability to support community needs end , private sector agencies and other community organizations can fill critical gaps . In order to successfully deploy this “ force multiplier ,” it is important that government agencies conduct pre-disaster outreach and build relationships with private sector entities in order to ensure that they can effectively work together under disaster conditions .
With this in mind , in 2012 , MEMA launched the Private Sector Integration Program ( PSIP ) as a means to engage non-governmental partners in all aspects of emergency management activities . One of the first in the nation , this program enhanced information and resource sharing between emergency managers and businesses in Maryland .
The Maryland PSIP was perceived as an opportunity for Maryland private sector businesses to engage with the government in an effort to build relationships and to improve individual organizational resilience . As a result of the responses to September 11 , 2001 and Hurricane Katrina , emergency managers determined that they needed to seek opportunities to cooperatively provide information , tools , and resources to businesses and critical infrastructure owners before , during , and
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