FEMA Wants to Be on The Right Track

The House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Homeland Security Appropriations held a hearing to review whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is on the right track. However, even that may not be enough as ranking member Hal Rogers (R-KY 9) noted by quoting Will Rogers as saying "even if you're on the right track, you will still get run over if you just sit there."

Despite recent successes in responding to the wildfires in California, tornadoes in Tennessee, and 60 other major disasters in the last year, doubts remain about FEMA's effectiveness since Hurricane Katrina. According to the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA now contributes to 6 material weaknesses in DHS in 2007, up from 2 key weaknesses in 2006.

The FY2008 Budget increased FEMA's budget by 175 million dollars, a 24% increase. With that funding, FEMA continues to try to enact its three-phase transition to the "new FEMA" in keeping with the Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act. FEMA is currently overdue to submit various reports to congress regarding improving its workforce. The Subcommittee urged FEMA to expedite the reports and exercise recently granted congressional authority to provide housing and work more closely with HUD.

Larry Gispert, President of the International Association of Emergency Managers, said that "FEMA wants to be on the right track" though it might not quite be there yet. He mentioned that emergency planning tends to give to much weight to potential terror threats, at the expense of preparation for the full range of emergencies, disasters, and other threats.

David Paulison, FEMA administrator, made mention of the issue of high levels of formaldehyde in FEMA trailers, explaining that the units were purchased from manufacturers and are exactly like those purchased by consumers. The Agency has been working with the manufacturers to improve the conditions. The majority of trailers showed low levels of formaldehyde.

FEMA can currently respond to a disaster in 72 hours, utilizing 8 storage facilities nationwide stocked with Meals Ready to Eat, water, and other relief supplies. The primary relief responsibility rests with the local levels of government, with State and Federal (FEMA) agents becoming involved when local efforts are overwhelmed.

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) Criticizes FEMA Disaster Housing Strategy at Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery Hearing

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) today chaired a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery hearing criticizing the FEMA disaster housing strategy.

In the poverty and natural disaster stricken regions of the Gulf Coast, Landrieu was adamant about her disapproval with FEMA’s inability to help needy Americans. The panel of witnesses interrogated by Chairwoman Landrieu each took accountability for their respective lack of success in rebuilding the cities of the Gulf Coast decimated by Hurricane Katrina, their delayed responses to helping storm-torn victims, and the fast growing problem of abnormally high formaldehyde toxin levels in such communities.

Landrieu was particularly upset that reasonable deadlines to pass legislation and provide aid for families had not been met. Panel members such as Harvey Johnson, Deputy Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, answered her criticisms by explaining that the problems regarding government responses and aid were “complex” and not easily fixable. Johnson, along with Milan Ozdinec, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Public Housing and Voucher Programs in the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, insisted that the government is actually doing a respectable job in helping families, paying particular attention to the most needy and elderly families first.

Despite the positive aspects of governmental housing assistance highlighted by Johnson, Ozdinec, and Dr. Howard Frumpkin of the US Department of Health and Human Services, Landrieu remained emphatic in her insistence that FEMA make reforms in its disaster assistance, preparedness, and response methods.