SCEMD Achieves National Reaccreditation

The Emergency Management Accreditation Program has granted the South Carolina Emergency Management Division full national accreditation. This national certification program examined the state's ability to respond to and prepare for disasters. SCEMD was first accredited in 2008 and reaccredited in 2013 and 2019.

"The SCEMD team has been working tirelessly to enhance our disaster response capabilities," said Kim Stenson, SCEMD Director. "Keeping our accredited status is crucial because it demonstrates our dedication to safeguarding the lives and assets of individuals residing in South Carolina."

This process has involved the entire Team South Carolina, including partner state agencies and local emergency managers. "We have the best team in the United States right here in South Carolina," said Governor Henry McMaster.

"Completing this national reaccreditation marks the end of a rigorous evaluation process. It also signifies the start of a new phase in which we strive to hold ourselves to an even greater level of excellence than we previously achieved.," said Major Gen. R. Van McCarty.

SCEMD's abilities to plan for a disaster, reduce a crisis's impacts, and assist in the state's recovery from devastation have all been rigorously examined to ensure this Division meets sixty-six national standards. Through program assessment, documentation, and on-site assessment by an independent team, S.C.'s emergency management system has demonstrated that this state's program meets these national standards.

EMAP is a voluntary accreditation process for state, territorial and local government programs that coordinate preparedness and response activities for major disasters. It recognizes the ability of a state or local government to bring together personnel, resources and communications from a variety of agencies and organizations in preparation for and in response to an emergency. It is the only accreditation process for state and local emergency management preparedness.

South Carolina is one of 36 states with a nationally accredited emergency management system.