Dayton signs compact with Canada for mutual aid in disasters

A mutual aid compact between the state of Minnesota and Canada will allow sharing of emergency personnel in certain disasters and emergencies.

Gov. Mark Dayton has signed a mutual aid compact that will allow Minnesota to request and provide assistance with the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan.

Minnesota will join with other eligible states: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The agreement allows the parties to request or share equipment, supplies, search and rescue teams and emergency medical personnel in certain disasters. Those could include floods and tornadoes, as well as chemical spills or terrorist attacks.

In a release, Minnesota's Homeland Security and Emergency Management director Kris Eide said the compact will help communities without the money, equipment or people to respond to disaster.

"This compact provides Minnesota an additional ability to quickly deliver and receive resources where needed," Eide said.

The agreement requires a state or other government to reimburse the jurisdiction providing the aid.