Is FEMA Ready?
Release Date: May 11, 2007
Release Number: FNF-07-024
Dear Editor:
Your May 6 editorial asks the question “Is FEMA Ready?”
In the short time since R. David Paulison was confirmed as FEMA’s new Administrator last summer, the agency has made major improvements in our communications, logistics, customer service and financial controls. The New FEMA is stronger and more nimble.
The reality is that FEMA took the necessary steps to respond to the 13 to 16 major storms predicted last year. The fact that only one hurricane made landfall illustrates the challenge of managing perishable logistics each year. FEMA regrets that there was a preventable loss of $2.3 million worth of food—not $70 million wasted—but we continue to improve our planning capabilities.
We are ready to respond and have plans in place for hurricanes and other disasters. Updating these plans is an ongoing process. Congress expanded FEMA’s roles and responsibilities after the 2006 Hurricane Season that we are currently incorporating into our system. In the interim, we have robust plans and are ready to respond.
The results are evident in FEMA’s response to tornadoes this year in Florida, recently in Kansas, and across the country. Senior FEMA leaders were in regular contact with our partners in state and local government. Supplies were pre-positioned and made available even before states asked for assistance. FEMA staff was on the ground within hours assessing damage. In short, we are leaning further forward to assist state and local leaders and first responders.
FEMA must continue to improve. We will. And, Americans must do their part to be prepared. But it is clear that with the hard work of the dedicated men and women at FEMA, we have come a long way.
John P. Philbin, Ph.D.
Director, Office of External Affairs
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Last Modified: Friday, 11-May-2007 15:49:18