EMC378 EMCOMM Officers Hdbk 12
To:   Emergency Communications Units - Information Bulletin
To:   Emergency Management Agencies via Internet and Radio
By:   Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) of the
      California Governor's Office of Emergency Services

EMC378 EMCOMM Officers Hdbk 12       Release 1/27/03

MUTUAL AID, LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE AND MUTUAL ASSISTANCE
                       DISTINGUISHED

Handbook sections 8a and 8b (EMC373 and 374) covered Government
Mutual Aid and said that there is a difference between government
agency Mutual Aid (MA), Local Government Assistance (LGA), and
Mutual Assistance as used by some Amateur Radio groups. Greater
detail of these three will be covered in a separate bulletin
group with examples. 

                 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
Mutual Aid is for emergencies in contrast for LGA which is used
to augment a jurisdiction's resources during 'planned events'
where the event organizer (either a 'profit' or 'non profit'
entity) provides for the expenses of augmentees (usually Law
Enforcement, but can be Fire, Medical Services or communications,
including government registered Amateur Radio units) via a
contract with the host jurisdiction. In CA LGA is used when no
incident or emergency occurs but where public safety coverage is
needed and the host jurisdiction cannot provide the level of
resources required. Incident, resource and mission numbers are
NOT assigned nor issued in CA OES for the LGA as it is a local 
function.

The host jurisdiction itself recruits the assistance from other
jurisdictions. In CA this can include OES ACS or Public Safety
assets such as the Satellite Trailers or Comm Vans. Yet, the CA
OES Mutual Aid Regions do not get involved directly in the
process.  The host jurisdiction will FYI CA OES so that CA OES is
aware of the impact on resources available just in case an
incident occurs in the same area that may require Mutual Aid.

The types of expenses (depending on the jurisdiction or agency)
for volunteers MAY include: travel, room, board and workers
compensation insurance and/or some sort of liability insurance.

There is another type of event that can be confused with the LGA;
namely the Public Display Event or Demonstration (PDE or DEMO).
It can look like a LGA and may be accomplished LIKE a LGA...but
it is _not_ LGA. An example of this would be an operating display
of a Communications Van or a recruiting booth at the County Fair.

HOWEVER, if the purpose of the equipment and/or personnel is/are
to be used by the requesting agency as communications for say,
crowd control, it would be LGA from CA State OES's perspective.
However, it is important to note that there are CA counties who
have requested "Mutual Aid" for crowd control in public events,
such as political conventions, dignitary visits and festivals.
Yet, characteristically the distinction between Mutual Aid and
LGA and PDE or DEMO is that Mutual Aid is for EMERGENCIES and LGA
and PDE or DEMO are for non emergency situations. The PDE or DEMO
is a situation that obviously is NOT emergency. A LGA can easily
be a situation that could avoid an emergency (such as the
illustrated crowd control.)

Series continues next bullten.
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EOM