|
NOTICE:
TIEMS Transportation Safety and Security Workshop January 28-29th 2003
|
Welcome to
the
Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management
|
| January 2003
Volume 3 - Number 4 |
|
Links:
Current events
|
COMMUNICATIONS & FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
A Look to the Past, Present, and Future
by Thomas A. Ruffini
Abstract
Since the Clinton Administration, communications between the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the President of the United States has been at a level never before seen in federal emergency management. Personal working relationships between these two executives, complimented by having an experienced emergency manager in the Director’s position, has enabled the United States to have by far the most efficient and successful emergency management system in the world. In the decade before September 11, 2001, two administrations - James Lee Witt and Bill Clinton and current FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh and President George W. Bush - led and continue to lead our nation’s emergency management system. Together they have seen to the reorganization of FEMA to a model government agency, and to its successful operations in helping our nation respond to and recover from all types of disasters, as well as mitigate the impact of these disasters before they occur. Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, a new focus has swept our nation. Last week, President Bush signed legislation to create the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The mission of this department will be to protect our nation from any future terrorist attacks, as well as to respond to and recover from any attacks that do occur. FEMA will be aligned within this new department, and will lose its independence as a federal agency, its close communications with the President, and the ability for its Director to control its core values, its mission, and its strategic plan. The likely suspect to endanger our citizens - to take their lives, and to destroy their property – however, is not a terrorist act. Natural disasters, such as fires, floods and earthquakes, are far more likely to occur and cause more damage to our country, our people, and our pride. Because of this, FEMA must not be swept into the new DHS and be so far removed from its current focus, but rather a balance must be struck. FEMA should be aligned to report directly to the new Secretary of Homeland Defense, but maintain its independence from the Department itself, in order for it to retain its focus and operations on all hazards, not just terrorist attacks. Enabling FEMA to remain independent will allow it to maintain its authority over federal emergency management and the Federal Response Plan. This will ensure that America is continuously capable of responding to any type of crisis or disaster. However, realigning the agency to report directly to the Secretary of Homeland Defense, will also ensure that the President’s goals of establishing the new Department are met – that FEMA works directly with the new agency to ensure the preparedness of our nation’s emergency response professionals, provide the federal government’s response, and aid America’s recovery from terrorist attacks and natural disasters. To Full Article |