[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15230-15231]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO THE 13-COUNTY MUTUAL ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH ALABAMA

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. ROBERT E. (BUD) CRAMER, JR.

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 26, 2002

  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the North Alabama 
13-County Emergency Management/Civil Defense Mutual Assistance 
Association as it celebrates over three decades of dedicated service to 
the North Alabama community. The association, which dates as far back 
as 1971, consists of the Emergency Management officials in Colbert, 
Cullman, DeKalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, 
Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston Counties across North 
Alabama. This organization has tirelessly protected countless lives in 
Alabama over the last thirty years, and I rise on behalf of my 
constituents in North Alabama to express my sincere appreciation to 
these EMAs.
  Formally organized in December 1978, the association was established 
with a purpose of working together among the thirteen counties across 
North Alabama to help each other protect lives and property in a 
coordinated, efficient, reliable and effective way during times of 
emergencies that exceed the capabilities of any single affected local 
government. The association works closely with the State of Alabama 
Emergency Management Agency to better facilitate effective response to 
critical situations.
  The EMAs from these thirteen counties had the foresight over three 
decades ago to recognize a concept that is today strongly advocated by 
all levels of government, that being, just how critical it is to 
cooperate across artificial jurisdictional boundaries in order to 
respond to emergencies. And now, when securing our homeland and 
preparing for emergency response is of utmost importance, the rest of 
the country has begun to realize the value of this kind of cross-
district cooperation by strongly promoting and requiring mutual aid and 
regional response capabilities, I want to commend the North Alabama 
EMAs in the 13-County Mutual Assistance Association who have worked so 
hard to protect the livelihood of North Alabama citizens.
  The 13-County Mutual Assistance Association serves as a standard for 
EMAs across our nation. In today's uncertain world, our first 
responders have to be ready to react quickly and effectively to large-
scale emergency situations that cross city and county lines. Mr. 
Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of North Alabama, I am pleased to 
recognize and thank the 13-County Mutual Assistance Association of 
North Alabama for leading the nation with their innovative outlook on 
cooperative emergency response developed over thirty years ago.

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