The agreement allows universities nationwide to provide mutual aid and resources to one another in an emergency.
No matter how prepared an organization, agency, or university is, an emergency can bring surprises that stretch resources to the brink. The University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) and University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) are now more prepared than ever to tackle the unexpected. They’re the first two universities in Maryland to sign on to the National Intercollegiate Mutual Aid Agreement (NIMAA), an initiative between higher education institutions to facilitate mutual aid and support during an emergency.
“This partnership allows our universities to not only receive support, but to also help other institutions in their time of need,” says Jonathan Bratt, MS, assistant vice president for the UMB Office of Enterprise Resilience. “It aligns with UMB’s mission to serve the public good — in Maryland and beyond.”
The emergency management teams at UMCP and UMB work closely together, including on training and exercises year-round. Joining NIMAA is another way the teams collaborated to advance their institutions’ readiness.
“In times of crisis — whether natural disasters, cybersecurity threats, or other emergencies — our institutions can now request and receive critical support,” says Erin Meyer, MSES, director of UMCP’s Office of Emergency Management and Business Continuity. “This network means that we’re not alone.”
Institutions can request mutual aid resources — including personnel, equipment, and supplies — during an emergency. This provides valuable opportunities for UMCP and UMB emergency management staff to support other institutions during an emergency. Employees could gain diverse experience and develop skills in real-world emergencies.
“We have a robust network of emergency managers within Maryland,” says Christopher Stanton, MS, executive director of the UMB Office of Emergency Management. “This allows us to expand our reach and enhance our team’s professional development, internal capabilities, and preparedness.”
Having two University System of Maryland (USM) institutions sign on to NIMAA concurrently paves the way for other Maryland universities to also join the network. This unified approach demonstrates USM’s dedication to collaborative problem solving and community support. This further solidifies UMCP and UMB’s reputations as leaders in higher education emergency response planning.
“We’re proud to collaborate with UMB to raise our emergency management capabilities to the next level,” says Meyer. “Our institutions don’t operate in a silo. Signing NIMAA is the next step to prepare before an emergency strikes.”