National Emergency Management Association

The National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) is the professional association representing the emergency management directors of the 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. Established in 1974, NEMA serves as the national forum for state and territorial emergency management leaders to collaborate, share best practices, influence policy, and strengthen the nation's ability to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disasters.

NEMA was founded on the recognition that states play a critical role in emergency management and require a unified voice in discussions with federal agencies, Congress, and other national stakeholders. Over the past five decades, the association has evolved into the leading advocate for state emergency management, helping shape national policies, programs, and legislation that affect disaster preparedness and resilience.

A core purpose of NEMA is to facilitate collaboration among its members and strengthen interstate coordination. The association administers the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), the nation's premier mutual aid system that enables states to share personnel, resources, and expertise during emergencies and disasters. Through EMAC and other initiatives, NEMA helps ensure that states can support one another when incidents exceed local capabilities.

In addition to policy advocacy, NEMA provides professional development opportunities, conducts research, develops guidance and resources, convenes national meetings and forums, and fosters partnerships across all levels of government and the private sector. By bringing together emergency management leaders from across the country, NEMA helps advance innovative solutions to emerging threats and challenges.

Today, NEMA's mission is to advance state emergency management and homeland security capabilities through leadership, collaboration, and advocacy, helping build a more prepared, resilient, and secure nation.