For Immediate Release
Sept. 2, 2005

Contact: Dana Wolverton 517/333-5032
EMD NR - 03

LANSING – In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, many local police agencies have offered to deploy to Gulf States to help keep the peace and aid the relief effort.

Mississippi and Louisiana authorities have clarified their requests for assistance from public safety officials from other states, and have issued the following requirements for potential respondents.

Law enforcement and public safety agencies must:

1) Receive pre-approval from Mississippi or Louisiana before deploying to the state;and

2) Mobilize and deploy following procedures of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), administered in Michigan by the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management Division.

We have been advised that law enforcement officers not pre-approved by Mississippi or Louisiana will be turned back. For more information, contact the Mississippi EMAC office (601) 360-0871, emac@mema.ms.gov.