Georgia Receives National Emergency
Management Accreditation

ATLANTA (November 28, 2007) — Today Governor Sonny Perdue announced the accreditation of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the state's system of preparedness and response by the national Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). 

   "GEMA's accreditation places Georgia in an elite group," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "By meeting the stringent national emergency management program standards, Georgia has demonstrated its national leadership in emergency preparedness efforts." 

   EMAP is a voluntary accreditation process for state, territorial and local government programs that coordinate preparedness and response activities for natural and man-made disasters ranging from tornadoes to terrorism. Currently, there are only 16 accredited states and three local jurisdictions in the nation. 

   This accreditation recognizes the ability of a state or local government to bring together personnel, resources and communications from a variety of agencies and organizations in preparation for and in response to an emergency. 

   GEMA was the lead agency responsible for ensuring the state's accreditation, which included a rigorous program of evaluation, documentation and on-site assessment by an independent team to demonstrate that it met stringent national standards. Accreditation is valid for five years. 

   "EMAP accreditation reflects the highest standard in state and local emergency preparedness," said GEMA Director Charley English. "We appreciate this recognition and will continue to work with our local partners in providing the highest level of service to our citizens." 

   The EMAP process evaluates emergency management programs on compliance with requirements in 15 functional areas including: planning, resource management, training, exercises, evaluations and corrective actions, and communications and warning.