10/9/2006
Media Contact:
Indianapolis: Justin Ohlemiller 317-327-3690
Cincinnati: Jason Barron 513-352-3250
Louisville: Matt Kamer 502-574-1903
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Cities to aid one another in crisis
Louisville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis forge mutual-aid agreement
INDIANAPOLIS (October 9, 2006) – Just weeks after America commemorated the five-year anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks and the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the cities of Cincinnati, Louisville and Indianapolis have entered into a unique agreement that clears the way for the three cities to work together in a major emergency.
Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory and Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson have committed to 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 three mayors jointly announced the tri-city pact today in each of their respective cities.
The cities are among the first in the nation to execute a mutual-aid agreement. In July, the U.S. Conference of Mayors proposed mutual-aid agreements as a key component of the conference’s National Action Plan for Safety and Security in America’s Cities drafted during a homeland security summit in Washington, D.C.
“Large scale disasters adhere to no boundaries or jurisdictional lines, so it is vital that communities take a regional approach to emergency response,” said Mayor Peterson of Indianapolis. “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.”
Abramson’s director of emergency management, Doug Hamilton, approached the other cities with the concept of the mutual-aid agreement. Cincinnati and Indianapolis emergency management officials met with Hamilton several times to develop the agreement.
“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 Louisville’s 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,” Cincinnati Mayor Mallory said. “It is important to work collaboratively now, so in the future we can respond quickly to any crisis.”
Under the Cincinnati-Indianapolis-Louisville agreement, 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.
For more information:
www.louisvilleky.gov
www.indygov.org
www.cincinnati-oh.gov
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