Arlington Earns Emergency Management Reaccreditation
Published on April 22, 2026
From severe weather to major events in the Entertainment District, the City of Arlington remains prepared for emergency situations that may arise.
The City of Arlington’s Office of Emergency Management has once again earned reaccreditation through the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP), a nationally recognized standard of excellence from the American National Standards Institute. This accomplishment reaffirms the City’s ongoing commitment to delivering a strong, reliable, and continually improving emergency management program.
EMAP accreditation is awarded to emergency management programs that demonstrate accountability, professionalism, and a dedication to evaluating and enhancing their preparedness efforts. It represents more than an achievement—it is a commitment to Arlington residents. A commitment to maintain the highest levels of service, readiness, and resilience in the face of any disaster, whether natural or man-made.
The emergency management program provides for management and coordination of prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery activities for all hazards. Arlington has proudly maintained this accreditation since 2014, demonstrating the City’s long-standing dedication to emergency preparedness. Arlington was the first jurisdiction in North Texas and the second in the state to receive the EMAP accreditation.
The reaccreditation process includes a comprehensive self‑assessment, detailed documentation, and an in‑depth peer review to verify alignment with the Emergency Management Standard—a key resource for agencies working to strengthen their disaster preparedness and response systems.
“The prestigious EMAP program accredits the emergency management program via peer review by other emergency management professionals from around the country to determine if our program has met the high EMAP standards,” Irish Hancock, Arlington’s Emergency Management Administrator. “By meeting these standards, Arlington is acknowledged as being a premier program that can continue to serve the community in all phases of emergency management.”
Accreditation is valid for five years, and to retain this distinguished status, programs must remain in compliance and undergo regular reassessments.
For more information about Arlington’s Emergency Management, visit the Emergency Preparedness webpage.