§ 19-13-402 — Purposes and authorities

(a) This compact is made and entered into by and between
the participating member states that enact this compact,
hereinafter called party states. For the purposes of this
agreement, the term "states" is taken to mean the several
states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of
Columbia and all United States territorial possessions.
(b) The purpose of this compact is to provide for mutual
assistance between the states entering into this compact in
managing any emergency or disaster that is duly declared by the
governor of the affected state, whether arising from natural
disaster, technological hazard, man-made disaster or emergency
aspects of resource shortages.
(c) This compact shall also provide for mutual cooperation
in emergency-related exercises, testing or other training
activities using equipment and personnel simulating performance
of any aspect of the giving and receiving of aid by party states
or subdivisions of party states during emergencies for actions
occurring outside actual declared emergency periods. Mutual
assistance in this compact may include the use of the states'
national guard forces, either in accordance with the National
Guard Mutual Assistance Compact or by mutual agreement between
states.