The binational U.S.-Mexico Border 2020 Environmental Program (successor to Border 2012), is a partnership among the U.S. EPA, SEMARNAT (the Mexican federal environmental agency), the ten U.S. and Mexican border states, and the 26 U.S. border tribes. The program divides the border region geographically into four regions. Goal 4 of the Border 2020 Plan focuses on emergency preparedness and response.
Binational emergency preparedness and response coordination is critical, because toxic smoke, contaminated water and other impacts from disasters and incidents don’t respect local, state or international boundaries. Emergency preparedness efforts - training, exercises, equipment - have been put to the test in real-life emergencies and led to a more efficient coordinated response. When a major tire fire and warehouse fire sent dangerous bellows of smoke from Agua Prieta, Sonora into Douglas, Arizona, Douglas firefighters crossed the border and helped put it out. And when a huge fire in Douglas was about to take an entire city block, Douglas received assistance from Mexican firefighters. A Joint Response Team (JRT) supports these efforts and ensures timely binational reporting of incidents.
