The jurisdiction receiving mutual aid can ____________ resources if they do not meet its needs.

In the context of mutual aid, the jurisdiction receiving assistance has the authority to decline resources if they do not meet the specific needs or requirements of the situation at hand. This is particularly important in incident management, where the compatibility and adequacy of resources can significantly impact the effectiveness of the response.

When a jurisdiction is overwhelmed by an incident, it may request aid from neighboring jurisdictions, but it must critically assess the resources provided. If those resources do not align with the operational requirements, standards, or capabilities needed for the incident response, the jurisdiction can choose to decline them. This ensures that all resources in use are effective and appropriate, supporting operational efficiency.

In this scenario, accepting resources that are not suitable could lead to confusion, inefficiencies, or even compromise the safety of responders or the public. Thus, the ability to decline ill-suited mutual aid is vital for ensuring a coordinated and effective response.