By Ed Somers
October 23, 2006

Louisville Metro Mayor Jerry E. Abramson, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, and Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson have forged a mutual-aid agreement pledging that in the event one city experiences a disaster or significant emergency the other cities would assist by providing police, fire, EMS, emergency management public works, or other public services as needed.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors proposed interstate city-to-city mutual-aid agreements as a key component of its 2005 National Action Plan for Safety and Security in America’s Cities drafted following Hurricane Katrina. The idea was developed by Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley, Co-Chair of the Homeland Security Task Force. Baltimore has been developing mutual-aid agreements with a number of cities including Washington (DC), Philadelphia, Richmond (VA) and Trenton.

“The lessons of 9/11 and Katrina are clear. In the time of crisis, our neighbors often are in the best position to offer the quickest and most assistance,” said Abramson. “In a disaster, we will save precious time and eliminate the red tape by having these relationships already established. That time saved can mean lives saved.”

“We need to be prepared to help each other in case of some kind of emergency,” Mallory said.

Peterson said, “This partnership puts a plan in place that will allow our three cities to take quick and decisive action to mobilize and save lives in the event of a major emergency.”

Under the Louisville-Cincinnati-Indianapolis pact, in emergency situations, the three cities have agreed to help the city in need to the best of their abilities. The mayor of the distressed city would declare a state of emergency and contact the other two cities to request additional resources. The assisting cities will provide assistance to the best of their ability while continuing to provide for the safety and protection of its citizens back home.

The personnel and equipment dispatched to help would operate under the direction of the officials of the city experiencing the crisis.

The cities have agreed to work closely to obtain any available federal or state reimbursement available to cover the cost of the disaster response. The Conference’s 2005 National Action Plan calls on Congress and the Administration to authorize a mechanism that would allow city-to-city mutual aid agreements to trigger reimbursement procedures and liability protection under the Stafford Act during an emergency.