Committee Chairmen Say Planned Disaster Preparedness & Response Improvements Are Only A First Step

Committee Chairmen Say Planned Disaster Preparedness & Response Improvements Are Only A First Step

Washington, D.C. - Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today at a hearing on the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina and DHS's perspective on improving emergency management capabilities and readiness at the federal, state, and local levels.

Secretary Chertoff outlined some of the shortcomings in evidence during the government's response to Katrina and outlined some steps the Department plans to take to improve future responses. However, Committee Members questioned whether those steps would be enough.

Secretary's Recommendations Only Address A Fraction Of The Problems Revealed By The Katrina Report
"The House Katrina Task Force Report makes clear that the federal emergency management system is broken," said U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

"Under the current system most of the key disaster authorities belong to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Those authorities and decisions should be with an emergency management professional.

"Ultimately, it takes the President to get all federal departments to respond, and the President needs solid professional advice to make the right choices.

"Whether FEMA stays in DHS or not, we have to put FEMA back together again. FEMA has been weakened and responsibility has been spread out all over DHS. Preparedness responsibility is one place and response is in another.

"We need to rebuild FEMA's professional workforce and emergency response teams. We need to improve logistics capacity and the ability to communicate in a disaster.

"We also have to do a better job building state and local emergency management capacity. Since 9/11 we have spent almost $15 billion dollars on equipment, but when we have a big disaster we can't get it where it is needed.

"We also have to resolve the tension between our all-hazards emergency system and our terrorism only preparedness grants.

"These programs as implemented have driven a wedge between many state homeland security advisors and state emergency management directors.

"The Secretary's recommendation to strengthen FEMA's professional workforce, response teams, and communications ability is a step in the right direction. But these recommendations only address a fraction of the problems revealed by the Katrina Report," Young said.

Re-Tooling FEMA Alone Will Not Get Us Where We Need To Be
"This past Monday, Secretary Chertoff announced the department's plans for re-tooling FEMA, focusing on boosting operational capacities for disasters," said U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), Chairman of the Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee.

"I applaud your efforts, but there is much more that needs to be done.

"Hurricane Katrina showed us our disaster system is broken. It must be a top priority of this committee to fix DHS, FEMA and the federal emergency management system. Because the problem with the federal system is much larger than FEMA, re-tooling FEMA alone will not get us where we need to be.

"First, catastrophic disasters require presidential involvement to mobilize the assets of the entire federal government, and the president needs solid professional disaster advice to make the right decisions.

"Second, active duty DOD forces need to be involved quickly and in support of civil authorities. Time is of the essence during a catastrophic disaster, and several days is simply too long to respond.

"Third, the four components of comprehensive emergency management - preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation - need to be closely integrated and jointly managed. The comprehensive management of nuclear accidents, terrorism, natural disasters, and emergencies of all types was FEMA's core function from day one for the simple reason that it doesn't work any other way. During Katrina we saw what happens when preparedness is too far removed from response.

"Fourth, we need a strong professional disaster workforce and robust disaster response.

"We also have to rebuild and in some instances develop capabilities that we've never had before. For example, FEMA needs to develop or have access to a logistics system that can move extremely large amounts of resources and pinpoint their location at any given time.

"FEMA also needs a communications capability that is portable, survivable, and allows for the integration of diverse systems.

"Finally, we must resolve the tension between our all-hazards emergency management system and terrorism preparedness and response," Shuster said.

Improvements Planned By Department Of Homeland Security
Secretary Chertoff outlined some of the steps the Department plans to take to improve disaster preparedness and response.

"Our first step for strengthening FEMA will be to create a 21st century logistics management system that will require the establishment of a logistics supply chain working with other Federal agencies and the private sector," Chertoff said. "In the first instance, that means we must put agreements in place before the need arises again to ensure a network of relief products, supplies and transportation support are in place that can be rapidly tracked and managed.

"This expanded logistics system will also include a better command and control structure so that FEMA can track shipments and ensure supplies get to the people who need them the most.

"Our second major area of improvement will be to upgrade FEMA's claims management systems, including its registration and intake procedures.

"Rather than relying primarily on volunteers to provide services in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, FEMA will develop a highly-trained nucleus of permanent employees to serve as its core disaster workforce.

"In the future, we must establish a robust, pre-established contract and response architecture with debris removal companies - cutting out middle-men and ensuring that States are quickly and cost-effectively supported by qualified local debris removal firms.

"Finally, to address what is commonly known as the ‘fog of war,' we are creating a hardened set of communications capabilities that will allow DHS, FEMA, and our Federal, State and local partners to gain better situational awareness about conditions and events on the ground as they unfold during a disaster," Chertoff said.

http://www.house.gov/transportation/