On Wednesday, April 22, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is set to confirm Craig Fugate for FEMA’s top spot. The Disaster Accountability Project is asking Craig Fugate, the President’s FEMA Administrator nominee, to explain how he plans to fix FEMA before he is confirmed. The bungled response to Hurricane Katrina underscores the need for the Senate to provide comprehensive FEMA oversight.
In March, the Baton Rouge Advocate editorial staff endorsed the Disaster Accountability Project’s position that the Senate should use Mr. Fugate’s confirmation hearing as an opportunity to learn if, and exactly how, FEMA is turning a new page.
To achieve that end, the Disaster Accountability Project has prepared a number of questions the organization is sending to Senators and Mr. Fugate. To see all questions, see Suggested Questions for Mr. Fugate Confirmation Hearing.
–Summary of Selected Questions–
Question on Supporting Local Emergency Plan Development: As FEMA Administrator, what will you do to ensure state and local governments maintain the most comprehensive and updated emergency plans? Would you support attaching requirements to FEMA’s preparedness grants that require state and local governments to maintain updated and comprehensive emergency plans? (page 5)
Question on Mass Care: Given the fact that the Red Cross is not capable of filling the role of primary agency for mass care, how can FEMA compensate and ensure that mass care services will be adequately provided? When will FEMA clearly document the expectations of the Red Cross and other volunteer organizations relating to mass care? (page 8 )
Question on Post-Disaster Communications: As FEMA Administator, how will FEMA work with states and vulnerable communities to ensure information about post-disaster relief services is provided effectively, especially when television and internet is not available? Might FEMA provide preparedness grants to states, counties, or municipalities to create radio stations dedicated to providing emergency information? (page 10)
Question on Disability Policy: In light of Section 513 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act and the federal government’s commitment to providing disaster preparedness and assistance to individuals with disabilities, as FEMA Administrator, how will you prioritize the creation of these regional disability coordinator positions and fund these positions in the current or next fiscal year? (page 12)
Question on Economy and First Responder Budget Cuts: As FEMA Administrator, 1) how will FEMA address the increasing number of cuts in first-responder services across the United States? 2) What is FEMA’s role in assisting local first-responder units facing cuts due to state and municipal budget deficits? 3) What changes would you make to these grant programs? (page 14)
Question On Housing: Under your leadership as FEMA Administrator, a) will FEMA focus on a short- or long-term housing strategy, b) what efforts will be made to ensure this planning happens before a major storm so people know what to expect from their government, c) how will you prioritize this? (page 17)
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I commend your efforts to improve the disaster response in this country through better accountability. I am sure that you are maintaining this project with little money, staff or time considering the topic at hand.
As an emergency management professional who has woked a lot of hurricanes, including Wilma, I want to take issue with you mass care question. In particular, I want to take issue with your insinuation that the response to Hurricane Wilma was inadequate.
For a number of reasons Hurricane Wilma was an extremely diffucult disaster. The tyranny of the geography of the peninsula plays havoc with the logistics of any response. The biggest problem is that six and a half million people are crammed into a narrow strip of land between a swamp and the Atlantic Ocean.
Despite these diffculties the state of Florida, with the assistance of the federal government and the voluntary agencies, conducted a truly outstanding response. The efforts of the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army and The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief were particularly noteworthy.
Since Wilma was the eighth hurricane to hit the state in a 16 month period, the considerable practice and experience that had been gained was instrumental in the success of the response. To say that the response was inadequate, and in particular the mass care response, is incorrect, regardless of what any newspaper said.
Craig Fugate did say that the disaster did not meet his expectations. That’s true. Craig has very high standards. By the standards of anywhere else in the country, the response was terrific.
On a final point, I recommend that you re-direct your mass care criticisms away from the Red Cross. Not that the Red Cross does not need some criticism. In the Big Picture, which is where you need to keep your focus, the shortfall in mass care capability is at the state level. The Governor and his/her state emergency management staff have the responsibility to request additional federal resources, when necessary, to augment the mass care delivered by the Red Cross and the other voluntary agencies.
A lot of the states don’t know how to perform this role, or even that they should be performing it. Efforts are underway to fix this. This is probably something that should be pushed.
I don’t imagine that this is at the top of Craig Fugate’s list, but it is something that he will get to in do time.
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