Statewide Mutual Aid

When disaster strikes, localities need all the help they can get to deal with the emergency. Under the Virginia Statewide Mutual Aid compact, cities and counties can seek additional resources from member communities to strengthen their response and recovery efforts.

About Statewide Mutual Aid

The Statewide Mutual Aid program was developed to assist cities and counties to more quickly and efficiently provide assistance to each other in response to a major disaster. Common expectations and procedures for implementation have been established and potentially problematic issues (such as those relating to insurance, liability coverage, and reimbursement) have been resolved in advance.

The program does not interfere with day-to-day agreements between nearby localities or other state agency sponsored mutual aid arrangements or programs already in place. The SMA program has the active support of the Virginia Municipal League, the Virginia Association of Counties, selected state agencies with primary emergency response roles, and all professional emergency responder member organizations statewide.

In fact, it was designed by a committee of representatives from these organizations. A fundamental principle was to establish such a program with sufficient flexibility so that it would be in the best interest of all cities and counties to participate. Direct guidance and assistance is available to cities and counties with sign-on, implementation, and reimbursement procedures as needed.

Statewide Mutual Aid Documents

• Statewide Mutual Aid Plan
• Frequently Asked Questions
• How to Implement Statewide Mutual Aid

Statewide Mutual Aid Forms and Checklists

• SMA Demobilization Checklist [35kb doc]
• SMA Deployed Personnel Tracker [54kb doc]
• SMA Deployment Checklist [56kb doc]
• SMA Personnel Information Form [28kb doc]
• SMA Reimbursement Checklist [31kb doc]
• SMA Response Survey Form [28kb doc]
• SMA Contact Form [31kb doc]
• SMA Event Agreement
• SMA Form B: Mission Cost Estimate
• SMA Form C: Personnel and Labor Estimate Sheet
• SMA Locality Reimbursement Form 

Statewide Mutual Aid ListServ

The ListServ is designed to allow the “registered user” to send 1 email and reach every registered user of the ListServ.   This ListServ automatically generates an email to the distribution group at the same time (near real time notification of every participating jurisdiction across Virginia). 

Statewide Mutual Aid ListServ Documents

 FAQ’s of SMA ListServ.

SMA Informational Update Template

SMA ListServ E-mail Attachment Request Template  

Statewide Mutual Aid Reimbursement Reminders

Cost recovery is a very important part of the SMA Process.  It is the responsibility of the Requesting Party and Assisting Party to thoroughly understand Section 3 of the “Authorizing Resolution” and the processes outlined in the Cost Recovery Section of the Statewide Mutual Aid Plan.   Rapid and accurate collection and submission of documentation will expedite the cost recovery process.      

For more information, contact Logistics Section Chief at (804) 674-2400.