The Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency (ICEMA) and the City of Paxton, 
acting through the Paxton Emergency Response Service (ERS), have entered into an intergovernmental mutual 
aid agreement to strengthen emergency preparedness and disaster response capabilities across county lines.
The agreement was requested by the City of Paxton and approved Tuesday by the Iroquois County Board. It 
was formally signed Tuesday evening during the Paxton City Council meeting in Paxton.
The agreement establishes a framework through which Paxton ERS and Iroquois County EMA may request and 
provide personnel, equipment, facilities, supplies, and emergency management services when an emergency or 
disaster exceeds, or is expected to exceed, the resources reasonably available to either agency. “This 
agreement puts a formal framework around something that is fundamental to emergency management- helping 
our neighbors when their resources are overwhelmed,” said Iroquois County EMA Director Scott Anderson. 
“Emergencies do not stop at a city or county line, and neither should our ability to work together.” The all-hazards 
agreement may be used for natural, technological, or human-caused emergencies, including severe weather, 
flooding, hazardous materials incidents, public health emergencies, and other situations requiring mutual aid. 
The partnership also provides opportunities for cooperation during planned events, training, drills, and exercises.
The agreement applies specifically to Iroquois County EMA and the City of Paxton through Paxton ERS. It 
supplements, rather than replaces, existing statewide and regional mutual aid systems. Each agency retains 
responsibility for its own jurisdiction, and assistance is provided based upon the availability of personnel and 
resources.
In addition to emergency response, representatives of both agencies will meet at least annually to review 
available resources, communications interoperability, and opportunities for joint training and exercises. “Mutual 
aid works best when relationships are established before an emergency happens,” Anderson said. “This 
agreement gives both agencies an opportunity to plan and work together ahead of time so that, if either 
community needs assistance during an emergency, we aren't exchanging business cards for the first time in the 
middle of a disaster.”
Iroquois County EMA appreciates the cooperation of the Iroquois County Board, City of Paxton, Paxton City 
Council, and Paxton Emergency Response Service in establishing this regional partnership.
Scott Anderson, Director
Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency