2013 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 29 - Military, Naval, and Veteran's Affairs
RS 29:733 - Interstate Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Compact

§733. Interstate Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Compact

A. This state enacts into law and enters into the Interstate Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Compact with all states, as defined therein, which states have enacted or shall hereafter enact the compact in the form substantially as follows:

B. The Interstate Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Compact, heretofore in force in this state by virtue of execution pursuant to this Chapter, is hereby confirmed and codified. The compact is and shall hereafter be in effect with any and all jurisdictions which have joined or which may hereafter legally join therein in the form substantially as contained in this Section, provided that such other jurisdiction or jurisdictions have signified their joinder with this state by enactment without limitation as to parties or in some other manner sufficient in law to make it clear that joinder has been effected with this state.

C. The contracting states solemnly agree:

Article 1. The purpose of this compact is to provide mutual aid among the states in meeting an emergency or disaster. The prompt, full, and effective utilization of the resources of the respective states, including such resources as may be available from the United States government or any other source, are essential to the safety, care, and welfare of the people thereof in the event of an emergency or disaster, and any other resources, including personnel, equipment, or supplies, shall be incorporated into a plan or plans of mutual aid to be developed among the emergency preparedness agencies or similar bodies of the states that are parties hereto. The directors of emergency preparedness of all party states shall constitute a committee to formulate plans to take all necessary steps for the implementation of this compact.

Article 2. It shall be the duty of each party state to formulate plans and programs for application within such state. There shall be frequent consultation between the representatives of the states and with the United States government and the free exchange of information and plans, including inventories of any materials and equipment available. In carrying out such plans and programs the party states shall, so far as possible, provide and follow uniform standards, practices, and rules and regulations.

Article 3. Any party state requested to render mutual aid shall take such action as is necessary to provide and make available the resources covered by this compact in accordance with the terms hereof; provided that it is understood that the state rendering aid may withhold resources to the extent necessary to provide reasonable protection for such state. Each party state shall extend to the civil defense forces of any other party state, while operating within its state limits under the terms and conditions of this compact, the same powers (except that of arrest unless specifically authorized by the receiving state), duties, rights, privileges, and immunities as if they were performing their duties in the state in which normally employed or rendering services.

Article 4. Whenever any person holds a license, certificate, or other permit issued by any state evidencing the meeting of qualifications for professional, mechanical, or other skills, such person may render aid involving such skill in any party state to meet an emergency or disaster and such state shall give due recognition to such license, certificate, or other permit as if issued in the state in which aid is rendered.

Article 5. No party state or its officers or employees rendering aid in another state or in its own state pursuant to this compact shall be liable on account of any act or omission in good faith on the part of such forces while so engaged, or on account of the maintenance or use of any equipment or supplies in connection therewith.

Article 6. Inasmuch as it is probable that the pattern and detail of the machinery for mutual aid among two or more states may differ from that appropriate among other states party hereto, this instrument contains elements of a broad base common to all states, and nothing herein contained shall preclude any state from entering into supplementary agreements with another state or states. Such supplementary agreements may comprehend but shall not be limited to provisions for evacuation and reception of injured and other persons, and the exchange of medical, fire, police, public utility, reconnaissance, welfare, transportation and communications personnel, equipment, and supplies.

Article 7. Each party state shall provide for the payment of compensation and death benefits to injured members of the response forces of that state and the representatives of deceased members of such forces in case such members sustain injuries or are killed while rendering aid pursuant to this compact, in the same manner and on the same terms as if the injury or death were sustained within such state.

Article 8. Any party state rendering aid in another state pursuant to this compact shall be reimbursed by the party state receiving such aid for any loss or damage to, or expense incurred in the operation of any equipment answering a request for aid, and for the cost incurred in connection with such request; however, any aiding party state may assume in whole or in part such loss, damage, expense, or other cost, or may loan such equipment or donate such services to the receiving party state without charge or cost, and any two or more party states may enter into supplementary agreements establishing a different allocation of costs as among those states. The United States government may relieve the party state receiving aid from any liability and reimburse the party state supplying forces for the compensation paid to and the transportation, subsistence, and maintenance expense of such forces during the time of the rendition of such aid or assistance outside the state and may also pay fair and reasonable compensation for the use or utilization of the supplies, materials, equipment, or facilities so utilized or consumed.

Article 9. Plans for the orderly evacuation and reception of the civilian population as the result of an emergency or disaster shall be worked out from time to time between representatives of the party states and the various local areas thereof. Such plans shall include the manner of transporting such evacuees, the number of evacuees to be received in different areas, the manner in which food, clothing, housing, and medical care will be provided, the registration of the evacuees, the providing of facilities for the notification of relatives or friends, and the forwarding of such evacuees to other areas or the bringing in of additional materials and supplies, and all other relevant factors. Such plans shall provide that the party state receiving evacuees shall be reimbursed generally for the out-of-pocket expenses incurred in receiving and caring for such evacuees for expenditures for transportation, food, clothing, medicines and medical care, and like items. Such expenditures shall be reimbursed by the party state of which the evacuees are residents, or by the United States government under plans approved by it. After the termination of the emergency or disaster the party state of which the evacuees are residents shall assume the responsibility for the ultimate support or repatriation of such evacuees.

Article 10. This compact shall be available to any state, territory, or possession of the United States, and the District of Columbia. The term "state" may also include any neighboring foreign country or province or state thereof.

Article 11. The committee established pursuant to Article 1 of this compact may request the Federal Emergency Management Agency to act as an informational and coordinating body under this compact, and representatives of such agency of the United States government may attend meetings of such committee.

Article 12. This compact shall become operative immediately upon its ratification by any state as between it and any other state or states so ratifying and shall be subject to approval by congress unless prior congressional approval has been given. Duly authenticated copies of this compact and of such supplementary agreements as may be entered into shall, at the time of their approval, be deposited with each of the party states and emergency preparedness agency and other appropriate agencies of the United States government.

Article 13. This compact shall continue in force and remain binding on each party state until the legislature or the governor of such party state takes action to withdraw therefrom. Such action shall not be effective until thirty days after notice thereof has been sent by the governor of the party state desiring to withdraw to the governors of all other party states.

Article 14. This compact shall be constructed to effectuate the purposes stated in Article 1 hereof. If any provision of this compact is declared unconstitutional, or the applicability thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the constitutionality of the remainder of this compact and the applicability of other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

Article 15.(a) This Article shall be in effect only as among those states which have enacted it into law or in which the governors have adopted it pursuant to constitutional or statutory authority sufficient to give it the force of law as part of this compact or any obligation undertaken by a state pursuant thereto, except that if its terms so provide, a supplementary agreement in implementation of this Article may modify, expand, or add to any such obligation as among the parties to the supplementary agreement.

(b) In addition to the occurrences, circumstances, and subject matter to which preceding Articles of this compact make it applicable, this compact and the authorizations, entitlement, and procedures thereof shall apply to:

(i) Searches for and rescue of persons who are lost, marooned, or otherwise in danger.

(ii) Action useful in coping with emergencies or disasters arising from any cause or designed to increase the capacity to cope with any such emergencies or disasters.

(iii) Incidents, or the imminence thereof, which endanger the health or safety of the public and which require the use of special equipment, trained personnel in larger numbers than are locally available in order to reduce, counteract, or remove the danger.

(iv) The giving and receiving of aid by subdivisions of party states.

(v) Exercises, drills or other training or practice activities designed to aid personnel to prepare for, cope with, or prevent any disaster or other emergency to which this compact applies.

(c) Except as expressly limited by this compact or a supplementary agreement in force pursuant thereto, any aid authorized by this compact or such supplementary agreement may be furnished by any agency of a party state, a subdivision of such state, or by a joint agency providing such aid shall be entitled to reimbursement therefor to the same extent and in the same manner as a state. The personnel of such joint agency, when rendering aid pursuant to this compact shall have the same rights, authority, and immunity as personnel of party states.

(d) Nothing in this Article shall be construed to exclude from the coverage of Articles 1-14 of this compact any matter which, in the absence of this Article, could reasonably be construed to be covered thereby.

Acts 1993, No. 800, §1, eff. June 22, 1993; Acts 1999, No. 598, §1.