Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management

Crisis and Emergency Management

Newsletter Website
return to mainpage

October/November 2007                                                                                            Volume 13 - Number 1/2

Presidential Candidates' Positions on Emergency Management...

Emergency Management Policy Position of Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee
By Sachiko Nagase

Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor (served from 1996 to 2007) and a republican candidate, summarizes four major points in terms of his emergency management policy. In his official website, “Mike Huckabee for President” (www.mikehuckabee.com) he starts off with introducing his personal story about Hurricane Katrina. I would like to start this article by introducing his care for the country’s one of the biggest disaster, Hurricane Katrina, which is his first point that he makes in his website. He “stepped forward and directed the rescue and relief of 75,000 victims.” Also, he was awarded by named one of America’s five best governors on Times magazine in 2005 along with Kenny Guinn of Nevada, Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, and Mark Warner of Virginia (Time in partnership with CNN, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1129494,00.html).
His second plan is to remove FEMA from the Department of Homeland Security and restore it to Cabinet status. By doing so, the director will report to the president directly. He believes that when FEMA was placed under the Department of Homeland Security, it made it difficult for the director of FEMA to communicate with the President. His plan of bringing the director back to the Cabinet shows his true care for crisis and emergency management.
The third point is to review the focus and mission of the Department of Homeland Security to make it more efficient. When the Department was formed, it brought together 180,000 people from 22 agencies, according to Mike’s issue on the website.  He hopes to create a structure whose cope is truly to prevent and identify threats and foiling attacks.
The last point is to address unresolved issues from 9/11 for the citizens’ protection. He feels that addressing issues such as the security of ports and chemical plans. He will respect each state’s decision if they decide even tougher standards to protect their residents.
After reading his issues and comments, I do feel that he takes crisis and emergency management seriously. Especially, his second point, remove FEMA from the Department of Homeland Security, is a great step for the country to be aware of its safety situation all the time.