Sunday, September 07, 2008
FEMA
FEMA Mission
DISASTER. It strikes anytime, anywhere. It takes many forms -- a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, a flood, a fire or a hazardous spill, an act of nature or an act of terrorism. It builds over days or weeks, or hits suddenly, without warning. Every year, millions of Americans face disaster, and its terrifying consequences.
On March 1, 2003, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The primary mission of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, by leading and supporting the Nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.
Do you understand that? FEMA is not designed to take the place of INSURANCE. It is not designed to help those who don't need help. It was created to fill a void, not make life all better for those who should have taken care of themselves. What happened to the values of my father? You prepare yourself, and you are ready to help others. Then and only then, when you are in need may you ask for help.
It's new, it is constantly tested, it is constantly needing to improve and it must stay fluid. Because NO MAN can predict where or how a disaster will develop. FEMA was in New Orleans and ready for what might come THERE. But Gustave ignored New Orleans. That doesn't mean Gustave left all the roads open between New Orleans and the rest of New Orleans so that FEMA could just bounce on in.
And just maybe, if everyone would quit looking at New Orleans as the be-all and end-all of Louisiana, maybe FEMA could have done what they should have done and not worried about public opinion. Maybe they could have looked at the storm track that told me, here in Iowa, that my mother's hometown was right in the path long before Gustave would get to New Orleans. But see, I can think that because no one is watching my every move, ready to take me down.
And sorry to disappoint those who do nothing but criticise the current government - FEMA was GREAT in Iowa. And there was one common theme heard from the FEMA agents - shock and relief and pride in how Iowans comported themselves during our VERY REAL crisis. Which isn't over, by the way. Yea, one FEMA guy dared say by the end of the first week that Iowa was already ahead of where New Orleans was NOW. That's because of PEOPLE, not agencies.
DISASTER. It strikes anytime, anywhere. It takes many forms -- a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, a flood, a fire or a hazardous spill, an act of nature or an act of terrorism. It builds over days or weeks, or hits suddenly, without warning. Every year, millions of Americans face disaster, and its terrifying consequences.
On March 1, 2003, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The primary mission of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, by leading and supporting the Nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.
Do you understand that? FEMA is not designed to take the place of INSURANCE. It is not designed to help those who don't need help. It was created to fill a void, not make life all better for those who should have taken care of themselves. What happened to the values of my father? You prepare yourself, and you are ready to help others. Then and only then, when you are in need may you ask for help.
It's new, it is constantly tested, it is constantly needing to improve and it must stay fluid. Because NO MAN can predict where or how a disaster will develop. FEMA was in New Orleans and ready for what might come THERE. But Gustave ignored New Orleans. That doesn't mean Gustave left all the roads open between New Orleans and the rest of New Orleans so that FEMA could just bounce on in.
And just maybe, if everyone would quit looking at New Orleans as the be-all and end-all of Louisiana, maybe FEMA could have done what they should have done and not worried about public opinion. Maybe they could have looked at the storm track that told me, here in Iowa, that my mother's hometown was right in the path long before Gustave would get to New Orleans. But see, I can think that because no one is watching my every move, ready to take me down.
And sorry to disappoint those who do nothing but criticise the current government - FEMA was GREAT in Iowa. And there was one common theme heard from the FEMA agents - shock and relief and pride in how Iowans comported themselves during our VERY REAL crisis. Which isn't over, by the way. Yea, one FEMA guy dared say by the end of the first week that Iowa was already ahead of where New Orleans was NOW. That's because of PEOPLE, not agencies.
# posted by Jane @ 2:16 PM 
