The Georgia Mutual Aid Group, a 501c3 non-profit, provides for the systematic organization, mobilization, and operation of Fire-Rescue and Public Safety resources located throughout the State of Georgia. Organized in 1994, its main purpose is to assist local agencies in mitigating the effects of natural and man-made disasters.
Most fire departments, EMS/Hospital agencies, and Public Safety/Law Enforcement Groups are self-sufficient and are well-prepared to mitigate routine emergencies including multiple alarm incidents of short duration. This is due mainly to a good understanding of the routine emergency environment, the ability to choose the appropriate action, and the judicious utilization of available resources. When these incidents occur, and where Mutual Aid Agreements are in place, immediate assistance is only jurisdictions away.
A catastrophic disaster, on the other hand, defies the ability of even a large fire department, EMS/Hospital agency and Public Safety/Law Enforcement Group to effectively pre-plan for it, much less gain rapid control of the chain of chaotic events that are multiplying in enormous proportion. When this occurs, emergency services are neutralized from the onset and the citizens in the affected areas are often left to fend for themselves for several hours. Help is not a jurisdiction away anymore. Most likely, neighboring fire departments, EMS/Hospital agencies, and Public Safety groups are dealing with the aftermath of the same disaster.
The chance for catastrophic disasters is greater today than ever before. Recent fires, severe weather incidents, mass casualty incidents and terrorist attacks confirm this. These disasters, whether natural or man-made, have the potential to affect a large population and a large geographic area. Any incident of this magnitude requires the immediate commitment of a professionally organized team with large resources in order to gain rapid control.
The Georgia Mutual Aid Group is the answer to most of these challenges. The basic philosophy of GMAG is that no public safety or corporate entity has the complete capacity to accomplish its mission when confronted with either a potential or an actual disastrous incident every time one occurs. Through GMAG, we can pool our resources and join together in a mission-oriented environment that will greatly enhance our ability to save life and property. This premise is extended to include assistance in developing operational procedures, purchase specifications, purchasing power, and a multitude of administrative, operational, planning, and logistical issues that each and every fire department, EMS/Hospital agency, and Public Safety/Law Enforcement Group must attend to everyday.
There are about 660 fire departments and 300 EMS/Hospital agencies and many Public Safety and Law Enforcement Agencies in Georgia. By working and planning together, we have proven that we can amass multiple fire companies, EMS Units, and Law Enforcement entities staffed by hundreds of fire fighters/Paramedics/EMTs and law enforcement officers to respond to disastrous incidents anywhere in the state within hours.
Each member fire chief, EMS director, and Public Safety/Law Enforcement Group is a member of the Board of Directors, which then elects an Executive Board. The Executive Director helps in administrative and other matters. See the GMAG Contacts page for details, names, and contact info.
Firefighting, EMS, and Public Safety history has proven that Mutual Aid Agreements are effective. Our goal is to make GMAG the finest mutual aid group of all.