FEMA Prepares For Hurricane Season 2006
Part of a series on Hurricane Preparedness in Texas
Release Date: March 29, 2006
Release Number: 1606-178
» More Information on Texas Hurricane Rita
AUSTIN, Texas -- Throughout FEMA's 27-year history, the agency has aggressively promoted all-hazards preparedness to save lives. This coming hurricane season is no exception. Preparedness is a responsibility that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) aggressively promotes.
While Hurricane Katrina - a catastrophic storm - resulted in the largest mobilization of federal response resources in history, the lessons learned have become invaluable as the agency prepares for disasters.
Just a few of the additional elements being put into effect for hurricane season 2006 include:
- Improved coordination between FEMA and the Department of Defense to implement pre-scripted mission assignments and establish a Defense Coordinating Officer (DCO) supported by a Defense Coordinating Element in each of FEMA's 10 regions.
- Installing Global Positioning System devices in disaster supply trucks will help track response assets both before and after a disaster.
- The Defense Logistics Agency and FEMA are establishing agreements to meet additional needs for disaster response commodities as well as medical supplies and pharmaceuticals to assist FEMA's National Disaster Medical System and Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces.
- FEMA is purchasing High-Frequency equipment integration, Land Mobile Radios, Disaster Satellite Communications and other mobile communication devices to complement its satellite phones and mobile communications systems.
- Improve customer service and speed disaster assistance to hurricane victims when most needed by hiring and training additional staff at its National Processing Service Center .
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Thursday, 25-May-2006 10:14:28