The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) new draft strategic plan has recently been released (January 2002).  The strategic plan is for a six-year period (2002-2008).  This plan emphasizes FEMA’s commitment to a balanced approach to “all hazards management”.  This plan details six directional goals that are of importance to FEMA successfully fulfilling its mission.  The six new strategic goals are:

· Reduce loss of life and property.
· Minimize the suffering and disruption caused by disasters.
· Prepare the Nation to address the consequences of terrorism.
· Serve as the Nation’s portal for emergency management information and expertise.
· Create a motivating and challenging work environment for employees.
· Make FEMA a world-class enterprise.
With the changing world of the 21st century, FEMA’s strategic plan addresses the vast opportunities that are arising as well as the challenges that must be overcome.  A major effort of FEMA’s strategic plan is to match FEMA’s internal goals with external realities that have become more dynamic since September 11, 2001.

Patricia Stahlschmidt, Director of FEMA’s Office of Strategic Planning & Evaluation, is instrumental in ensuring that FEMA’s new strategic plan attains its goals in a practical and systematic fashion.  This new plan has novel goals that are replete with robust objectives and means for achieving them.  

Ms. Stahlschmidt was asked a variety of questions on March 18, 2002 that dealt with various aspects of FEMA’s strategic plan and direction.  Provided below are the questions and the answers that were given.  

1. How do FEMA’s new strategic goals differ from past strategic goals?

The six goals in FEMA’s new draft strategic plan can be divided into three areas.  Goals 1 and 2 cover our current lines of business in preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation, and are closely linked to the goals in our current strategic plan.  Goals 3 and 4 represent new lines of business, with Goal 3 emphasizing our leadership role in dealing with the consequences of terrorism, and Goal 4 outlining FEMA’s role in serving as a portal of emergency management information.  Goals 5 and 6 are very new types of goals and are designed to ensure that we have a strong workforce and are a high-performing organization so that can carry-out the mission outlined in the plan.  

2. What is your assessment of FEMA’s strategic goals?

I believe FEMA’s strategic goals are comprehensive and represent FEMA’s commitment to proactively addressing hazards of all types.  The goals also represent our Director’s commitment to performance-based management, which is the basic objective of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993.  

3. Which strategic goal is the most important in your mind?

All of the goals are important.  Collectively, they will enable FEMA to prepare the Nation to deal with hazards of all types.  Goal 3, to prepare the Nation to address the consequences of terrorism, is especially timely now because of the increased threats we now face, though FEMA will maintain a comprehensive approach to dealing with all hazards.  Goals 5 and 6 are vital in ensuring we can perform well as individuals and as an Agency.  

4. Which goal do you believe will be the most difficult to achieve? 

The fourth goal, I believe, will be the most difficult to achieve.  FEMA must proactively assert its role to become the Nation’s portal for emergency management information.  FEMA must also work with other agencies, the private sector, and “first responders” to ensure that their needs are adequately and effectively met with the use of information technology.  With this goal, FEMA is also helping to meet President George W. Bush’s “e-government” initiative to streamline information technology practices in the federal government.

5.  Have any of FEMA’s goals shifted with the creation of the Office of Homeland Security?

No, FEMA has always had the responsibility of working with State and local governments to deal with the consequences of terrorism, just as we do for natural hazards.  FEMA’s Office of National Preparedness is involved with the Office of Homeland Security on issues that are of importance to maintaining homeland security.  The proposed $3.5 billion for “first responders” will be an added benefit to ensuring that they are trained, exercised and equipped to respond at the local level. 

6. What innovative ideas are being implemented to meet these strategic goals?

FEMA is taking a more aggressive approach than ever before to get input from our external partners and stakeholders as we develop the strategic plan.  We are now in the process of meeting with external partners and stakeholders at the National level and in each of our ten regional offices.  We are specifically getting comments on the proposed performance measures for each of the six goals.  The first meeting was held in Washington D.C. on March 15 with groups such as the National Association of Counties, National Governor’s Association, National Emergency Management Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, and International Association of Emergency Managers. Meetings with similar groups and with State and local officials will be held in FEMA’s regional offices during the month of April.  

The author sincerely appreciates Patricia Stalschmidt’s contribution to this article.  

References
 
1. http://www.fema.gov/library/splan_01.html

2. Stalschmidt, P. Interview by Stephen Fields. March 2002.