Title
Resolution to Approve the Participation of the City of Ann Arbor Fire Department in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Division - Michigan
Memorandum
Local communities may be faced with emergencies which overtax their local Fire/EMS and special operations capabilities. A “local” emergency may not warrant a State Declaration of Disaster and its accompanying statutory powers. Without a Declaration of Disaster or Declaration of an Emergency, statewide mutual aid cannot be activated nor can the statutory powers such a Declaration provides related to liability, workman’s compensation coverage and assistance reimbursement be accessed. Communities are dependent on requests for mutual aid assistance, which responses are voluntary without formal written Mutual Aid Agreements between the locality and the assisting agency.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was created to address this gap. MABAS was originally formed in 1968 in Chicago, quickly grew into Divisions with the state, and then regionally with current Divisions in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan.
The purpose of a MABAS Division is to have local governments commit through a signed resolution to provide pre-determined resources when called upon to assist another jurisdiction beyond a mutual aid agreement.
A MABAS Division is comprised of a number of local adjoining municipalities that create a substructure within an assigned region.
The benefit to participating in MABAS-Michigan:
· Improves disaster response capabilities
· Reduces impact of disaster on community
· Strengthens interstate mobilization
· Brings fire service stakeholders together
MABAS participation does not replace current City of Ann Arbor Mutual Aid Agreements or alter the City or replace the City participation in the Michigan Emergency Mutual Aid Compact (MEMAC) previously approved by City Council.
Participation in MABAS is recommended.
Staff
Prepared by: Mary Joan Fales, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Rev...
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