MUTUAL AID, LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE AND
MUTUAL ASSISTANCE DISTINGUISHED
MUTUAL ASSISTANCE DISTINGUISHED
Handbook sections 8a and 8b (EMC373 and 374) covered Government Mutual Aid and said that there is a difference between government agency Mutual Aid (MA), Local Government Assistance (LGA), and Mutual Assistance as used by some Amateur Radio groups. Greater detail of these three will be covered in a separate bulletin group with examples.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
Mutual Aid is for emergencies in contrast for LGA which is used to augment a jurisdiction's resources during 'planned events' where the event organizer (either a 'profit' or 'non profit' entity) provides for the expenses of augmentees (usually Law Enforcement, but can be Fire, Medical Services or communications, including government registered Amateur Radio units) via a contract with the host jurisdiction. In CA LGA is used when no incident or emergency occurs but where public safety coverage is needed and the host jurisdiction cannot provide the level of resources required. Incident, resource and mission numbers are NOT assigned nor issued in CA OES for the LGA as it is a local function.
The host jurisdiction itself recruits the assistance from other jurisdictions. In CA this can include OES ACS or Public Safety assets such as the Satellite Trailers or Comm Vans. Yet, the CA OES Mutual Aid Regions do not get involved directly in the process. The host jurisdiction will FYI CA OES so that CA OES is aware of the impact on resources available just in case an incident occurs in the same area that may require Mutual Aid.
The types of expenses (depending on the jurisdiction or agency) for volunteers MAY include: travel, room, board and workers compensation insurance and/or some sort of liability insurance.
There is another type of event that can be confused with the LGA; namely the Public Display Event or Demonstration (PDE or DEMO). It can look like a LGA and may be accomplished LIKE a LGA...but it is not LGA. An example of this would be an operating display of a Communications Van or a recruiting booth at the County Fair.
HOWEVER, if the purpose of the equipment and/or personnel is/are to be used by the requesting agency as communications for say, crowd control, it would be LGA from CA State OES's perspective. However, it is important to note that there are CA counties who have requested "Mutual Aid" for crowd control in public events, such as political conventions, dignitary visits and festivals. Yet, characteristically the distinction between Mutual Aid and LGA and PDE or DEMO is that Mutual Aid is for EMERGENCIES and LGA and PDE or DEMO are for non emergency situations. The PDE or DEMO is a situation that obviously is NOT emergency. A LGA can easily be a situation that could avoid an emergency (such as the illustrated crowd control.)
Continues next week
The host jurisdiction itself recruits the assistance from other jurisdictions. In CA this can include OES ACS or Public Safety assets such as the Satellite Trailers or Comm Vans. Yet, the CA OES Mutual Aid Regions do not get involved directly in the process. The host jurisdiction will FYI CA OES so that CA OES is aware of the impact on resources available just in case an incident occurs in the same area that may require Mutual Aid.
The types of expenses (depending on the jurisdiction or agency) for volunteers MAY include: travel, room, board and workers compensation insurance and/or some sort of liability insurance.
There is another type of event that can be confused with the LGA; namely the Public Display Event or Demonstration (PDE or DEMO). It can look like a LGA and may be accomplished LIKE a LGA...but it is not LGA. An example of this would be an operating display of a Communications Van or a recruiting booth at the County Fair.
HOWEVER, if the purpose of the equipment and/or personnel is/are to be used by the requesting agency as communications for say, crowd control, it would be LGA from CA State OES's perspective. However, it is important to note that there are CA counties who have requested "Mutual Aid" for crowd control in public events, such as political conventions, dignitary visits and festivals. Yet, characteristically the distinction between Mutual Aid and LGA and PDE or DEMO is that Mutual Aid is for EMERGENCIES and LGA and PDE or DEMO are for non emergency situations. The PDE or DEMO is a situation that obviously is NOT emergency. A LGA can easily be a situation that could avoid an emergency (such as the illustrated crowd control.)
Continues next week
To subscribe to bulletins send a blank email to emcomm-bulletin-sub@cesra.org or go to www.cesra.org/subscribe/.
Submit suggestions, topics or comments on the bulletins to Cary Mangum, State ACS Officer, California. (W6WWW), cary.mangum@macnexus.org or cary_mangum@oes.ca.gov
Bulletins archives: ACS Web page: acs.oes.ca.gov, ftp.ucsd.edu/emcomm or ftp.oes.ca.gov/ACS/EMCOMM and a Landline BBS at 916-255-0798 (graphical & standard interface)
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Submit suggestions, topics or comments on the bulletins to Cary Mangum, State ACS Officer, California. (W6WWW), cary.mangum@macnexus.org or cary_mangum@oes.ca.gov
Bulletins archives: ACS Web page: acs.oes.ca.gov, ftp.ucsd.edu/emcomm or ftp.oes.ca.gov/ACS/EMCOMM and a Landline BBS at 916-255-0798 (graphical & standard interface)
EOM
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