August 29, 2011 - State Police Members Deploy To Assist Hurricane Irene Recovery Efforts

Contact: Nicole Lisabeth, MSP/EMHSD Public Information Officer, (517) 336-6464

Agency: State Police

LANSING.  The Michigan State Police is deploying two emergency management officials to New York to assist with recovery efforts following Hurricane Irene this past weekend.  The deployment is in response to a request made by New York for out-of-state support through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC).

Members of the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD) will be deployed to Albany, New York, for up to 14 days in support of the New York Emergency Management Office.  Michigan personnel will assist in the New York State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), which is responsible for coordinating the state's response and recovery activities. 

"The Michigan State Police was proactively monitoring Hurricane Irene's impact, which allowed us to quickly answer New York's request for assistance," said Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the MSP and State Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.  "Our personnel are well trained and ready to support New York as they continue recovery efforts to protect public health and safety."

Since joining EMAC in 2002, Michigan has sent resources out-of-state several times in support of EMAC requests, including helping Minnesota respond to severe flooding in 2009.

Through EMAC, a disaster impacted state can request and receive assistance from other member states quickly and efficiently.  Members of EMAC include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 

The Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division, is responsible for coordinating state and federal resources to assist local government in response and relief activities in the event of an emergency or disaster, as well as coordinating homeland security initiatives and various federal grants.