tamatoledonews.com JOHNSTON (SPECIAL) – The state of Iowa’s emergency preparedness and response program has been granted full accreditation by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP).

Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD) Administrator David Miller received notification of Iowa’s accreditation on Oct. 27. EMAP accreditation demonstrates that an emergency management program meets 63 national standards, including standards in the areas of prevention, planning, mutual aid, training, exercises and crisis communications.

“I want to congratulate David Miller and his staff at Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management for achieving this huge milestone,” said Lt. Governor and Governor’s Homeland Security Advisor Patty Judge. “EMAP accreditation speaks volumes about Iowa’s commitment to protecting our citizens in times of disaster or emergency.”

HSEMD staff began working toward accreditation in the spring of 2009. During that time, HSEMD performed a self-assessment of Iowa’s emergency management system, underwent an on-site assessment by an independent, trained team of assessors, and a review by the EMAP Program Review Committee. The EMAP Commission then determined accreditation should be granted to the Iowa program. Accreditation is valid for five years, at which time Iowa may apply for reaccreditation.

“This is a major accomplishment for HSEMD and all those who worked with us to earn this accreditation,” said Miller. “It was a long and rigorous process, but we were able to demonstrate the vitality and strength of Iowa’s emergency management system. That strength lies in our demonstrated ability and commitment to bring together resources from all our partner agencies and entities to mitigate from, prepare for, respond to and recover from any emergency or disaster.”

Iowa joins 23 other states that have been granted EMAP accreditation. The Emergency Management Accreditation Program is a voluntary accreditation process available to state, regional, territorial, tribal, county and municipal government programs responsible for disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.