Hurricane Season Begins With Short-term Fixes Alleviating Short-Term Problems

Hurricane Season Begins With Short-term Fixes Alleviating Short-Term Problems

Emergency Management Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), on the first day of hurricane season, is calling for not only short-term solutions to prepare for this year's storms, but also a long-term, comprehensive reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), because it is the best way to prepare America for hurricanes in 2007, 2008 and beyond.

"Today marks the official start of hurricane season and many of the short-term fixes to our emergency preparedness system are being put in place," said Shuster, who also served on the special Congressional committee that investigated the numerous problems associated with the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina. "FEMA is working hard to fill its 20 percent staffing shortfall and contract for unprecedented levels of food, water, and logistical support. However, these solutions cannot entirely make up for three years of FEMA's declining response capabilities and neglect under the Department of Homeland Security. Given the state of affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, DHS and FEMA will have to rely heavily - more than usual - on Department of Defense capabilities and state governments to compensate for these shortcomings," said Shuster, chairman of the U.S. House Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee.

"This reiterates the necessity of not only strengthening FEMA, not only improving FEMA's communications, but also implementing comprehensive, long-term reform that keeps our emergency management resources connected to the White House and outside of DHS," Shuster added. "FEMA needs to be rebuilt and reinforced, but keeping FEMA under DHS will only lead to deterioration again in the future."

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

http://www.house.gov/list/press/pa09_shuster/hurricaneseasonbegins.html