Bismarck  (CSi)  The North Dakota Department of Health, Emergency Preparedness and Response section will deploy two Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) medical response teams to Raleigh, N.C. this week.

The teams are comprised of 28 registered nurses, paramedics and EMTs. They will assist the hurricane-impacted state in medical shelters supporting vulnerable populations. North Carolina requested the specialized teams through the EMAC.

“Other states often look to North Dakota to help with response efforts due to our knowledge and experience,” said Tim Wiedrich, Emergency Preparedness and Response Section Chief. “We are grateful to assist and stand ready to support others impacted by disasters in their time of need.”

EMAC enables a disaster-impacted state to request and receive assistance from other member states quickly and efficiently. Congress has ratified EMAC in all 50 states, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. North Carolina will reimburse North Dakota’s costs as delineated in the EMAC request.

Even though we are not able to predict when or where the next disaster will occur, we are willing and able to be part of the solution,” said State Health Officer Mylynn Tufte. “It is also reassuring to know other states would come to our aid should North Dakota be in a similar position of need.”

For more information on the Emergency Management Assistance Compact visit www.emacweb.org.

Qualified individuals interested in volunteering on future missions should visit http://www.ndhealth.gov/EPR/HP/PHEVR to become a member of the Public Health Emergency Volunteer Reserves/Medical Reserve Corps (PHEVFR/MRC).