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Q 8. Does an agency have to respond to a request for assistance? <br /> A. No. The idea behind the mutual aid agreement is that we are here to help each other when <br /> an unusual situation needs an immediate response beyond our resources. There will be <br /> times when an agency may call for assistance, but another neighboring agency is unable to <br /> respond. They may be experiencing effects of the same disaster events, or may be fully <br /> committed to other work, or may not be in the financial position to assist. The mutual aid <br /> agreement does not obligate any agency to respond, nor does it require an explanation as to <br /> why it chose not to respond. <br /> Q 9. What if an agency responds and needs its resources back? <br /> A. An agency is not expected to send resources if it impacts its own ability to effectively <br /> manage daily operations or response to its own emergency. Resources remain under the <br /> authority of the responding agency and can be recalled at any time. <br /> Q 10. What happens if one of my agency employees gets hurt while rendering aid to another <br /> agency? <br /> A. Each member agency remains fully responsible for their employees. This means that each <br /> agency will pay their employees salary, benefits, insurance and provide liability coverage. <br /> Should a disaster become eligible for IEMA or FEMA reimbursement, these costs may be <br /> paid by FEMA. <br /> Q 11. How long must I provide assistance if deployed? <br /> A. There is no obligation to respond. However, we ask that responding agencies put in at least <br /> one full work day. The total length of your response may be as long as the requestor needs <br /> assistance or as long as you can help, whichever is less. If you need to bring your resources <br /> home, you always have the right and authority to do so under the IPWMAN agreement. <br /> Q 12. If an agency responds to a request for assistance, will that agency receive <br /> reimbursement? <br /> A. The intent of"mutual aid" is that we help each other. We have the same relationship with <br /> each other—"If I need help, you will help me; if you need help, I will help you." The <br /> original premise of the mutual aid movement was that we helped each other without the <br />' thought of getting paid. Based on the principle of neighbor helping neighbor, no financial <br /> reimbursements will be paid to the responding community for the first 5 work days of <br /> assistance. (There is one exception to this principle that will be explained later.)In other <br /> words,the first 5 days of help are free. <br />' Q 13. Why are the first 5 days free? What happens after the first 5 days? <br /> A. In the past, agencies operated with the understanding that the responding agency would not <br /> seek reimbursement from the agency requesting assistance unless the requesting agencies <br /> received state and/or federal assistance. That type of understanding is no longer possible. <br /> Under current federal guidelines, reimbursement cannot be contingent upon receiving state <br /> Page 3 of 5 <br /> Cast Updated:12/92008 4:53 PM <br />