Johnson County updates mutual aid policy to allow assistance without formal disaster declaration

Dan Robeson, division of emergency management, told the Board of County Commissioners that the county will ask the board next week to approve two items to strengthen its disaster assistance posture, including an updated mutual aid policy that removes a requirement that a requesting jurisdiction be under a formal disaster declaration before receiving aid.

"This updated resolution would remove that restriction," Robeson said, adding that state statute authorizes local governments to adopt mutual aid policies and defines what constitutes a disaster. He said the revised policy clarifies the county's authority to provide assistance both within Kansas and across state lines and enumerates the types of assistance—people, equipment and services—that the county may provide.

Why it matters: Removing the requirement for a formal declaration is intended to let Johnson County respond more quickly to time‑sensitive needs. Commissioners pressed staff on two points: what the agreement means for reimbursement eligibility (including FEMA reimbursement) and how "disaster" and "public safety agency" are defined under the statute.

Robeson said the state statute defines "disaster" as an occurrence or imminent threat of widespread severe damage, injury or loss to life or property from natural or manmade events, and that "public safety agency" is also statutorily defined to include municipal fire departments, law enforcement, sheriff's offices, volunteer and non‑volunteer fire protection associations, emergency management, public works or similar public or private agencies. He acknowledged that FEMA reimbursement eligibility can depend on declarations and other conditions, and said the proposed resolution is silent on reimbursement mechanics; it instead focuses on authority and operational clarity.

Commissioner Brewer asked whether aid provided under the old policy had ever been reimbursed by FEMA; Robeson said some assistance had been reimbursed in past events but emphasized that the statute itself is silent on a declaration requirement and that the change aims to remove ambiguity in time‑sensitive situations. Commissioner Myers and others cited a past ice storm as an example where faster response would have mattered.

Robeson said the resolution incorporates safeguards: county staff will evaluate requests to ensure providing assistance will not jeopardize protection of Johnson County residents or operational readiness. Commissioners asked for education on standard mutual aid protocols and for clarity on reimbursement responsibilities before final action.

Next step: the revised mutual aid resolution (to replace Resolution 115‑95) was discussed and later moved onto the consent agenda for next week's meeting.