It enables states to share resources during natural and man-made disasters, including terrorism.
It was formed in 1993, and in 1995 any state was allowed to join and the National Emergency Management Association was made the administrator.
To be a member of EMAC, each state or territory legislature must have passed legislation which was signed into law, adopting the standard language of the Compact.
Since at least 2003, all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam are members of EMAC.
[6] In 2023, EMAC was utilized by Texas to request support from other states to help interdict drug and human trafficking near the Texas-Mexico Border under Operation Lone Star.
[8] In addition to providing another avenue for states to receive assistance in times of disaster, EMAC offers the following benefits: