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U.S.-Mexico Border Program
Goal 4: Emergency Preparedness and Response
Border 2025 Goals
Since 1983, the United States, Mexico, and Border Tribal Nations have worked together to address public health and environmental risks in communities located within the U.S. - Mexico border region. The current program, Border 2025, is structured around four mutual Goals:
This StoryMap addresses Goal 4: Emergency Preparedness and Response. Learn more about the Border 2025 Framework, Organization, Goals, and Objectives .
This map displays the 100 km buffer area along the border; markers indicate the Sister Cities that participate in the Program.
Goal 4: Hazardous Emergencies
The Border 2025 Emergency Preparedness and Response Goal aims to protect air, water, and land from hazardous environmental emergencies. Emergency response efforts along the border are guided by the Joint Mexico-U.S. Contingency Plan , chaired by Mexico's Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, Mexico's Civil Protection, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In this StoryMap, you can explore how:
• Cross-border Sister Cities ensure the health and safety of the people and the environment along the border
• Training and exercises build response capabilities along the border
• Border partners have worked together on hazardous material response efforts
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Sister Cities
Fifteen sets of neighboring Sister Cities sit on opposite sides of U.S.-Mexico Border and are home to more than 1 million people. Through the creation of tailored emergency response plans , the Sister Cities work collaboratively to respond to hazardous incidents that may harm the air, land, water, and/or public health. These include releases of hazardous gases, liquids or wastes, and fires.
Sister Cities are in areas with higher population densities, which can come with increased industry, traffic, and pollution, putting vulnerable communities at risk. Researchers are analyzing and prioritizing regions based on factors such as population density, types of industry, transportation, and ecological factors.
Click the counties to explore population densities.
Environmental Justice
The Border 2025 Program prioritizes Environmental Justice , or the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income. The Emergency Preparedness and Response Goal recognizes the impact that these factors can have on the likelihood of hazardous environmental emergencies occurring in populated areas.
Many Sister Cities have addressed specific hazards or needs in their region by completing grant-funded projects. These projects will assist in the planning and updating of Sister City Plans as well as provide insight into preparedness efforts along the border.
Climate Change
The impacts of climate change , including increased frequency and severity of storms, extreme heat events, wildfires, flooding, and droughts, can cause or contribute to hazardous environmental emergencies. Goal 4: Emergency Preparedness and Response partners are prepared to respond to these emergencies. EPA's Climate Change Indicators Story Map highlights the human and environmental consequences of climate change impacts. Border Program partners are committed to building capacity to address the impacts of climate change. Goal 1: Reduce Air Pollution , aims to create climate change action plans in the Sister Cities along the border and identify resilience priorities. Community resilience projects can prepare the border region for the adverse impacts of climate change.
Preparedness and Coordination
Border Program partners are furthering their capacity to respond to future hazardous environmental incidents through:
- Updates to cross-border notification procedures that incorporate new technologies
- Easing of the cross-border movement of emergency response equipment and personnel during active incidents
- Identification of areas with higher risk, based on previous incidents. When an incident occurs in the border region it is reported to the National Response Center, which aids in response, communication, and record keeping. Identifying higher risk areas can help predict, prepare for, and prevent future incidents.
This map displays the density of "Spill Report" calls placed to the National Response Center regarding hazardous material releases or environmental emergencies within the border region.
Zoom in and click to explore the location and nature of the emergency notifications.
Training & Exercises
Goal 4: Emergency Preparedness and Response focuses on training and improving capacities of response teams along the border. First responders participate in trainings and exercises across the border to learn best practices for responding to different types of incidents, build connections with their Sister City counterparts, and discover the latest technologies to maintain clear and direct connections during incidents.
Trainings and exercises are routinely sponsored by Border Program partners so first responders are informed about cross-border procedures. Topics include hazardous waste operations and emergency response, incident command, and evacuation and emergency planning.
The Border 2025 Program has supported the training and capacity-building of hundreds of responders in Sister Cities along the border.
Response in Action
Border Program Partners have utilized prior trainings, exercises, and the Emergency Contingency Plans to effectively respond to emergencies along the border. In 2016 and 2018, Agua Prieta activated the Joint Contingency Plan due to uncontrolled tire fires. In both cases, the Douglas Fire Department responded by sending firefighters into Mexico to assist with extinguishing the blaze.
Improving the protocols that allow first responders and their equipment to quickly cross the border is a top priority of the Emergency Response and Preparedness Goal.
Hazardous environmental emergencies extend beyond local, state, or country boundaries. EPA is proud to work with Mexico, specifically the Federal Attorney General for Environmental Protection and Civil Protection , to improve our preparation for emergencies that occur along our shared border.
Developed by the EPA Office of Emergency Management