FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 06, 2004
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Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Secretary Ridge Addresses National Volunteer Fire Council Meeting |
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Washington, DC
Remarks as Prepared
Thank you for that introduction. I'm honored to be here this morning with
the men and women of the National Volunteer Fire Council -- an organization that
continues to be a valued partner of our Department.
While the Department of Homeland Security is a little more than a year old,
the work of securing our hometowns and safeguarding our communities has been an
ongoing effort since the days when a different "George W" held the office of
President.
An effort that has been led through the years by America's dedicated first
responders -- firefighters, law enforcement, rescue service personnel --
ordinary men and women who have forged a proud tradition of service and
dedication to the safe-keeping of our nation.
Today -- from California to Connecticut -- from urban areas to small rural
towns -- your fellow firefighters will continue that tradition by answering the
fire call, rushing to aid those in need and putting their lives on the line.
On September 11th, the entire world was able to see first-hand the sacrifices
firefighters and other first responders are called to make on a daily basis --
and the incredible, steadfast courage they exhibit in making them.
September 11th completely re-defined the homeland security mission. In an
instant, we came face to face with an enemy bent on the destruction of our way
of life, capable of carrying out catastrophic attacks to achieve their sadistic
goals, and unscrupulous in their regard for the innocent.
And that new reality of terrorism on American soil required a swift and
drastic change to our understanding of what it means to secure America.
Before September 11th, counties, cities, and states for the most part worked
independently to achieve their security goals and objectives. The problem with
that approach is that if security goals aren't integrated then there are going
to be holes and gaps -- the type of weaknesses terrorists look to exploit.
That's why after September 11th, it became abundantly clear that securing our
homeland would require all those different entities to come together around a
shared goal of protecting our nation and our citizens from those who would seek
to do us harm.
It would require a homeland security vision that, at its core, is based on
partnerships. A vision of shared leadership and shared responsibility -- a
regional approach -- counties, cities, and states working together through
mutual aid agreements, interoperable communications, statewide intelligence
centers, community and citizen participation -- all these necessary elements
communicating and coordinating in the event of a crisis.
For more than two years now, we have worked to build upon that vision -- to
build that security capacity from the ground up and to build strong partnerships
across all segments of our society -- from the private sector to state, tribal
and local governments to the first responder community -- in order to accomplish
our vision of a strong and safe nation.
I've often said that for the homeland to be secure, the hometown must first
be secure, so it follows that first responders such as yourselves -- who have
been on the front lines protecting our communities for generations -- are
integral to the success of protecting our nation against the new threat of
terrorism.
Washington can be expected to lead, but we cannot, nor should not,
micro-manage the protection of our country. Nowhere is this more important than
in the area of emergency preparedness and response. In the end, firefighters,
emergency personnel, and local officials on the ground understand the needs of
your individual communities better than anyone.
At Homeland Security we have worked to provide a framework for emergency
preparedness planning that will guide and coordinate the integration of our
national response capabilities, but also will ensure that localities and states
still have the freedom to make the necessary decisions to ensure the highest
level of protection for their citizens. This National Response Plan will pull
together all of the current federal response capabilities under a single "all
hazards" system for prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.
The plan is being developed with guidance from all stakeholders -- federal
government agencies, state, local, and tribal officials, as well as first
responders. This working blueprint will enhance our nation's capabilities and
unify our efforts to prevent, prepare, respond and recover from potential
threats, attacks or disasters.
A cornerstone of this plan has been the creation of the National Incident
Management System -- or NIMS -- as it's known in the land of acronyms. As many
of you know, NIMS is based on the highly successful Incident Command System
developed and used for more than 30 years by America's fire services.
NIMS is the nation's first-ever multi-discipline, intergovernmental,
standardized incident management plan -- a framework to create a unified command
system for federal, state, tribal and local governments and the response
community.
Under NIMS, all levels of government will share a common set of
terminologies, protocols and processes to ensure a seamless, coordinated
response. It puts into practice the concept of "one mission, one team, one
fight" -- across all levels of government. First responders are often the first
on the scene and the last to leave, and your ability to communicate and work
together is paramount.
One of the great tragedies of our response at the World Trade Center was that
even within New York City, the Police Department radios couldn't transmit to the
Fire Department radios. And when engine companies rushed in from nearby
neighborhoods, some couplings that fit "hoses to hydrants" weren't compatible.
From these disappointments and wake-up calls emerged a resolve not to let an
incompatible radio frequency or a too-small/too-large piece of safety equipment
impede the ability of brave men and women to save the lives of citizens -- as
well as their own. That’s why we're working to develop standards that fit
into the NIMS framework and improve your ability to operate effectively across
county, city, and even state lines.
Already, Homeland Security has identified technical specifications for a
baseline interoperable communications system as the short-term solution to allow
first responders to communicate by voice -- no matter what frequency they're on
or mode they use.
And recently, we also announced the first standards regarding personal
protective equipment, in order to protect first responders against chemical,
biological, radiological and nuclear hazards. These standards, which will
assist state and local procurement officials and manufacturers, are intended to
provide emergency personnel with the best available protective gear.
Of course having a plan is only the beginning. As we work to improve our
ability to respond to a crisis, one of our prime responsibilities at Homeland
Security is to ensure that our first responders have the right equipment, the
right training and the right amount of support to continue to do their jobs
well.
This Department has been unwavering in its commitment to this charge. Since
the tragedy of September 11, 2001, we have allocated or awarded well over $8
billion to assist and equip our Nation's first responders. And in this year's
budget, the President has requested an additional $3.6 billion to further
bolster our first responders' ongoing efforts.
Our citizens count on you to keep them safe. But we cannot allow your safety
to be compromised. That is why, in addition to first responder funding, this
Administration has strongly supported the Assistance to Firefighters Grant
Program. President Bush is the first president to call specifically for funding
the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program in his budget. He did this prior
to September 11th, and quickly utilized this program after 9-11 to shore up
support for our fire and rescue services.
When the FY 2004 grant process finishes, we will have distributed close to $2
billion under this program to more than 20,000 local fire departments, and the
President has proposed another $500 million in this year's budget.
As many of you know, we have recently moved the Firefighters Grant Program
from FEMA to our Office for Domestic Preparedness. This move marks an effort on
our part to consolidate all of our grants in one place, so that the process can
become more efficient for both the applicant and the Department.
We are constantly looking for ways to streamline the grant process and make
it more user-friendly. Already with FIRE grants, we have added help screens,
provided a 1-800 assistance call center, provided a tutorial CD in every
application packet, as well as offered extensive grant applicant workshops --
more than 340 across the country since the beginning of the year.
In addition, I have asked ODP to aggressively review the application and look
for ways that we can further simplify the application itself. Of course, all
the facets of the FIRE grant process that have generated such positive feedback
from you -- the online application, direct funding, peer review process, and the
grant workshop assistance -- will continue to be a part of the program.
And I want to assure you that although the process will be facilitated by a
new office, the focus and purpose will not change. At Homeland Security, we
understand that there are basic needs that must be met in firehouses all over
our country. In helping equip communities and first responders to meet the
threat of terrorism, we can't neglect the fundamentals.
Whether fighting an act of terrorism or fighting a fire -- firefighters need
proper breathing equipment, boots, a helmet, and protective gear. This grant
program helps ensure that firefighters are getting the basic equipment they need
to do their jobs, even as you take on more difficult responsibilities and
challenges in your expanded post 9/11 role.
With that in mind, we have looked for ways beyond just funding that can
support the mission of our nation's firefighters.
Homeland Security is working closely with the National Volunteer Fire Council
-- as well as several other firefighter organizations -- to build a national
Fire Corps program that will fall under the umbrella of Citizen Corps.
By partnering with the fire community to create Fire Corps, we will offer
citizens in every neighborhood across America an opportunity to support their
local firehouse. Citizen volunteers can have an impact in a variety of ways.
Some may choose to spread the word about fire prevention or educate the
community on fire safety or help with routine administrative tasks. But all in
choosing to serve will give firefighters more time and resources to pursue their
critical, highly skilled responsibilities on the front lines of emergency
response -- where they are needed most.
We know that the National Volunteer Fire Council will play an instrumental
role in getting this program up and running. And I want to thank you in advance
for your willingness to be a part of building this program from the ground up.
Citizen Corps has been a tremendous grassroots tool to engage Americans at an
individual level to invest in the security of their community. As I mentioned
earlier, homeland security is about shared responsibility -- and all of us --
including citizens have a role to play.
Fire Corps will be another way in which we can harness the spirit of
volunteerism in our nation to empower citizens to make a difference in their
communities and ultimately their country. The type of difference that those of
you in this room make on a daily basis, the type of difference that generations
of firefighters have made in constant, selfless service to others.
You know it's been said that the men and women of Homeland Security have to
be right more than a billion times per year -- terrorists, only once. I know
that kind of pressure is something the fire community can understand.
So as we build a Department dedicated to Homeland Security -- my goal and
hope is that we forge a tradition of unyielding commitment and unfaltering
sacrifice that aspires to the tradition of "hometown security" passionately
pursued by a long line of heroes -- known simply to all of us as firefighters.
Thank you.
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