(Washington, DC) The District of Columbia's emergency management program has received full accreditation by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). The announcement was made September 4 by Ellis M. Stanley, Sr., chairperson of the EMAP Commission, at the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) meeting in Seattle. The District is among the first two jurisdictions to earn this designation; the state of Florida also was granted accreditation on September 4.

"I am immensely proud and pleased that our city has earned this national recognition for the excellence of its emergency management program," said District of Columbia Mayor Anthony Williams. "This distinction demonstrates that the District of Columbia is one of the most prepared jurisdictions in the nation. All of the District agencies and our non-governmental partners who are on our Emergency Preparedness Council should be justifiably proud of this accomplishment. Our emergency management agency and its director, Peter LaPorte, and deputy director, Barbara Childs-Pair, deserve special recognition for their leadership of the city's participation in the accreditation process," the Mayor said.

EMAP is a voluntary, non-governmental process in which state and local emergency management programs undergo self-assessment, documentation of activities, and then an external review by independent assessors who to determine the jurisdiction's compliance with the EMAP Standards. The standards represent the characteristics of a quality emergency management program and cover the range of capabilities from training to equipment to financial management.

DC Emergency Management Director Peter G. LaPorte said EMAP accreditation provides public validation of the city's preparedness efforts. "Although we felt that our efforts over the last two years had greatly improved and enhanced the city's level of preparedness, this public acknowledgement by an impartial, outside entity should remove any doubt about the efficacy of our plans and preparation," Mr. LaPorte said.

Accreditation is valid for five years from the date the EMAP Commission grants accreditation. Accredited programs are expected to maintain compliance with EMAP standards, keep proof of compliance up to date, and conduct their activities in accordance with EMAP's goal of continuous improvement. An annual report summarizing the maintenance experience for the preceding year is due on the anniversary of accreditations. Every five years, the jurisdiction must be reassessed by the EMAP program.