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II Media Release &Manag— For immediate release April 29, 2016 Contact: Nicole Ishmael, emap@csg.org Highest Honor for Emergency Management Awarded to Seven Programs Lexington, Ky. – Congratulations to the following Emergency Management Programs that have earned accreditation by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP): Hillsborough County, Fla..- Indian la.;Indian River County, Fla.; and the Cities of Dallas, Texas, Henderson, Nev., and Seattle, Wash. In addition, Pierce County, Wash. and the Consolidated City of Jackson viIIe/Duval County, Fla. have achieved reaccreditation. "Congratulations to those programs that have maintained their accredited status as well as those who have joined the elite leaders in emergency management having earned accreditation through the Emergency Management Accreditation Program. Through their commitment and leadership, they have proven to their communities and stakeholders that their programs are sustainable and that they continue to focus on their communities' best interests," stated Robie Robinson, Executive Director of Public Safety, University of Tennessee -Chattanooga and the EMAP Commission Chair. Providing emergency management programs the opportunity to be evaluated and recognized for compliance with standards certified by the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) and recognized by the industry complies with the EMAP's mission to build safer communities through credible standards of excellence. These programs demonstrate accountability and focus attention on areas and issues where resources are needed to heighten their preparedness efforts to any technical or natural disaster that may affect their communities. To achieve accreditation, applicants must demonstrate through self-assessment, documentation and peer assessment verification that its program meets the Emergency Management Standard. The emergency management program uses the accreditation to prove the capabilities of their disaster preparedness and response systems. Accreditation is valid for five years and the program must maintain compliance with the Emergency Management Standard and is reassessed to maintain accredited status. For Pierce County, Wash. and for the Consolidated City of Jacksonville/Duval County, Fla. reaccreditation proves just as significant. By maintaining their accredited status throughout the years, these programs prove that they adhere to the Emergency Management Standard, and successfully maintain accreditation status to achieve reaccreditation this year EMAP revolutionizes emergency management programs that coordinate preparedness and response activities for disasters based on standards. EMAP recognizes the ability of emergency management programs 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. The Emergency Management ,Standard is flexible in design so that programs of differing sizes, populations, risks and resources can use it as a blueprint for improvement and can attain compliance with those standards in an accreditation process. The accreditation process evaluates emergency management programs on compliance with requirements in sixteen areas, including: planning; resource management; training; exercises, evaluations, and corrective actions; communications and warning; and administration. This forms the foundation of the nation's emergency preparedness system. EMAP is the only accreditation process for emergency management programs. # # # Building safer communities through measurable standards of excellence. www emap.org 1776 Avenue of the States. Lexington, KY 40511