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NJ Office of Emergency Management
Colonel Rick Fuentes Major Dennis McNulty
Superintendent, New Jersey State Police
State Director of Emergency Management
Commanding Officer, Emergency Management

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Mary Goepfert (609) 963-6818 December 15, 2011

NEW JERSEY ACHIEVES NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACCREDITATION

TRENTON N.J. – The State of New Jersey has received full accreditation by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP), Christie Administration officials announced today. The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management oversaw the accreditation process, documenting how the State met nationally-recognized standards for disaster preparedness and response systems, and undergoing a peer-review assessment by EMAP-trained assessors.

"This is a significant milestone for the State Office of Emergency Management and for State Government," said Colonel Rick Fuentes, State Police Superintendent and Director of the NJ Office of Emergency Management. "It represents the ability of State agencies to work in partnership and serve New Jersey residents during all types of adverse conditions. It also means that we will continue to subscribe to these high program standards now and into the future, as we work to maintain our accredited status."

Accreditation is valid for five years from the date the EMAP Commission grants accreditation. Accredited programs must maintain compliance with EMAP standards and be reassessed in five years to maintain accredited status.

"Achieving accreditation reflects leadership and a commitment to excellence and the State of New Jersey has demonstrated both. Citizens and stakeholders of the State Emergency Management Program can be proud of and confident in the staff and key partners who have helped demonstrate New Jersey’s emergency preparedness" states Barbara Graff, Director, Seattle Office of Emergency Management and Chair, EMAP Program Review Committee.

The Emergency Accreditation Program is a voluntary accreditation process for emergency management programs that coordinate preparedness and response activities for disasters, from wildfires to terrorist acts, based on national standards. EMAP recognizes the ability of state and local governments and private companies to bring together personnel, resources and communications from a variety of agencies and organizations in preparation for and in response to an emergency, in addition to obtaining the ability to measure those capabilities. This forms the foundation of the nation’s emergency preparedness system. EMAP is the only accreditation process for emergency management.

Working collaboratively since 1997, state, local and federal emergency managers developed EMAP to provide quality standards and a process for determining compliance. The Emergency Management Standard by EMAP creates a structure for strategic planning for improvement coupled with methodical, verified assessment by experienced peers from other jurisdictions, which results in stronger capabilities and accountability. The EMAP process evaluates emergency management programs on compliance with requirements in 16 areas, including: planning; resource management; training; exercises, evaluations, and corrective actions; and communications and warning.

 

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