FEMA: The Good, The Bad, The Unknown

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FEMAThe Good, The Bad, The Unknown
Image thanks to www.globalsecurity.org
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Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• Created in 1979 by President Carter
• Merge and centralize other organizations geared
  towards disaster relief
• Provide assistance before and after disasters to
  local and state governments

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Major Goals of FEMA

• Reduce loss of life and property
• Minimize suffering and disruption caused by
  disasters
• Prepare the Nation to address the consequences of
  terrorism
• Serve as the Nations portal for emergency
  management information and expertise

http//www.fema.gov/about/what.shtm
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Mitigation The Cornerstone

• Programs to educate local and state government
  and citizens of all ages of the many different
  kinds of natural disasters
• Work with top engineers to formulate appropriate
  building codes and regulations for homes in high
  risk areas
• Closely monitors the disaster declaration process
  to make sure that officials are making the right
  decisions

http//www.fema.gov/fima/
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FEMA What you see

• Most Americans had known little to nothing about
  FEMA, until the recent strike of many major
  hurricanes
• Hurricanes such as Charley (Punta Gorda, FL),
  Katrina (Gulf Port, MS), and Wilma (Marco Island,
  FL) have forced FEMA into the media hot seat
• The majority of Americans also dont realize FEMA
  aids in many smaller disasters that dont make
  national news

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What you dont see

• Tornadoes in Indiana and Wyoming
• Difficulties related to snow in most of the
  northern states, including Maine, Massachusetts,
  and even Nevada
• Fire management in the Western United States
• Typhoon relief as far away as the Northern
  Mariana Islands
• Flood and mudslide relief in Puerto Rico

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RIGHT NOW FEMA is..
Major Disaster Declarations

• Presently there are 110 local disasters affecting
  specific cities and counties that the agency is
  dealing with
• With the relatively limited budget, FEMA spreads
  the money as best as possible for being spread so
  thin across the country

http//www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema
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The Politic Problem

• Unfortunately, FEMA (like any other government
  agency) suffers from the political force that
  also gives it power.
• All of its funding and most of its appointments
  depend on which party is in power and what that
  party wishes to accomplish FEMA and other relief
  agencies may or may not receive attention.

Image www.stopboergenocide.com
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Hurricane Andrew

• FEMAs response to Hurricane Andrew was so
  catastrophic that many felt that it would be
  better if FEMA were just abolished all together.
• It took over 3 days for FEMA to show up, and when
  they did, they were not prepared
• Not enough supplies, not enough help- It just
  added to the chaos.

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Recent History

• Until the Clinton administration appointed James
  Lee Witt to overhaul the organization, FEMA was a
  dinosaur.
• Over half of its funding was delegated for
  reaction to a massive nuclear attack.
• Politically, FEMA was a big joke. Serious talks
  of disbanding it occurred during the 1980s Bush
  administration.

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Reforms

• James Lee Witt changed the entire mission and
  organization of FEMA.
• Long gone were the complicated forms necessary to
  receive aid. A phone call was made and competent
  help arrived in hours rather than days
• All but a few positions were assigned strictly on
  qualification regardless of political standing.

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The Golden Years

• Rather than just being reactive, FEMA began to
  become proactive in helping communities re-plan
  land usage after a disaster and instate codes to
  ward off future costs.
• Examples
• Mississippi Flooding of 1993
• Northridge Earthquakes of 1994
• Oklahoma City Bombing 1995

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www.pulitzer.com
http//earthobservatory.nasa.gov
www.cwc.ca
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Katrina What went wrong?

• Under the W. Bush administration, Mike Brown
  became the new director of FEMA.
• He unfortunately is a good example of how a good
  organization can go down hill without leadership.
• FEMA experienced major budget cuts, was demoted
  from its national status, and the new employees
  were completely unprepared for a major disaster
  like Katrina.

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The Upside ?

• While FEMA did come in under par for Katrina
  victims, this was a learning lesson and FEMA was
  back on track shortly. Better late than never.
• It is also necessary to remember that good news
  doesnt sell new as well as bad news, so the
  majority of what we see about any organization is
  negative.

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Questions and Comments?
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Test Questions

• What does FEMA Stand for?
• After Mike Brown stepped down, who stepped in?
• Name on mitigation effort and describe