FEMA Replies To Unjustified Claims Regarding FEMA's Response To Early Snowstorm In Western New York
Release Date: October 17, 2006
Release Number: R2-06-001
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region II Director, Stephen Kempf, conducted a conference call with New York Congressman Brian Higgins, State and local officials. The conference call was in response to unfounded criticism of an insufficient FEMA response to Buffalo and Western New York in the violent and unexpected Lake Effect Snowstorm that occurred on October 12 and 13, 2006.
Participants included the officials of the State Emergency Management Office, the Mayor of Buffalo, city supervisors and commissioners. FEMA participants included program staff and FEMA's newly designated Federal Coordinating Officer, Peter J. Martinasco.
The purpose of an Emergency Declaration is to support the State, local, and County governments in meeting immediate requirements; to take life-saving and emergency protective measures, and debris removal.
During the conference call, Director Kempf assured all concerned: "All that can be done will be done under the current Emergency Declaration that encompasses the counties of Erie, Genesee, Orleans, and Niagara, and the City of Buffalo. The requests by the State will be met upon receipt."
Following is an outline of FEMA's activities during the pre Emergency Declaration stage.
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FEMA works directly with the Office of the Governor or his or her designee, in this case, the Director of the New York State Emergency Office, John Gibb.
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In any disaster situation, the State is the lead in coordinating with local officials, and has been doing so from the beginning of this incident.
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FEMA Headquarters has been in constant contact with State congressional offices providing them with the latest information available.
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Pre-staged one hundred (100) generators as early as October 14, 2006 by FEMA and immediately deployed to Orchard Park, NY (vic Buffalo).
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FEMA also activated the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and has been in place with a FEMA lead since the Declaration.
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At the time of the Emergency Declaration, FEMA had a fully active Joint Field Office (JFO) in Albany, New York with 40 FEMA employees ready to assist the State, at their request, for detailed damage assessments.
At this point, a Major Declaration has not been declared, and it is inappropriate to raise expectations until the State has had a chance to do a full Damage Assessments, with our help and that of the public's. FEMA is currently focusing on Joint State/FEMA Individual Assistance/Public teams and the performance of Preliminary Damage Assesments, estimated to be completed by next week.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, initiates mitigation activities and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA works closely with state and local emergency managers, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first responders. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 18-Oct-2006 08:11:03