To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. NAPOLITANO’S DHS Fugate Comes to FEMA ON MARCH 4, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ANNOUNCED THAT CRAIG FUGATE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WAS BEING NOMINATED AS DIRECTOR OF THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION (FEMA). Immediately, the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), a professional association, strongly supported the nomination. NEMA President Nancy Dragani, herself the director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, said Napolitano and Fugate both “get it” when it comes to assisting states in disaster preparedness and response. “In many cases, we are in a far better position to respond rapidly than our federal partners are in large disasters,” Dragani told Homeland Security Today. “I hope there is a recognition that best practices are not limited to the federal government or limited to inside the Beltway. In fact, best practices tend to be generated by those who are closest to the action and, in this case, that would be local and state partners and not the feds.” Dragani and other state emergency managers met with Napolitano shortly after she became secretary, and they were impressed by her knowledge and early focus on their perspectives. Napolitano vowed to meet with them quarterly or bi-annually to discuss their concerns. It’s important for FEMA to engage in an ongoing dialogue with state and local governments, Dragani emphasized. “They should avoid handpicking whom their dialogue comes from. They need to bring in state and local partners at the onset of a discussion—not after a plan has been developed or policy has rolled out, because it’s very difficult to make corrective action at that point,” she stated. Dragani has seen changes in operations lately where FEMA has consulted the National Advisory Council, Stafford Act Committee and other organizations in the conceptual development of policy— before anyone actually puts pen to paper to begin drafting policy. FEMA leaders have been asking state and local operators such questions as: What is the problem? How do we fix it? Will that work? “That’s the kind of dialogue that needs to occur. Not just after the 400-page policy is written, they put it out for two weeks of comment and say: ‘Tell us what you think.’ That’s not effective, and it’s quite frustrating at the end of the day,” she said. Napolitano has vowed to cut through red tape and speed federal services to state governments as they cooperate on a regional basis in tackling their homeland security priorities. Inspired by the difficulties in delivering full public assistance to states struck by Hurricane Katrina, in March Napolitano established two joint review teams consisting of FEMA and state personnel to resolve disputes in public assistance to states recovering from disasters. Still, states must take the initiative to cooperate with each other, Dragani acknowledged. States in FEMA Region 5, for example, met in February to discuss how Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky could assist each other if there was an earthquake along the New Madrid Fault Line. “Region 5 knows the needs of Ohio better than Region 9 does,” Dragani pointed out. “Our geography is different and our relationships are there. So a strong regional FEMA is very important to a strong response to any disaster in any part of the country.” Expectations that the federal government should solve every problem and should arrive instantly in response to disasters have climbed too high, Dragani added. It is imperative that state and local agencies, which have the proximity to deliver relief immediately, possess the capacity to deal with catastrophes when they happen. GEORGE ARMSTRONG/FEMA Collapsible & Reusable Containers Save Money & Resources! Reduce Waste & Damage! Ergonomic! Containers When & Where You Need Them Ship Flat! Store Flat! Stack Flat! Unique panel design and easy snap-on fasteners provide ultimate strength and durability. Designed to our customer’s specifications! Learn More! (866) 928-5710 www.versi-panelenclosures.com Register online today for exclusive online content and eNewsletters Homeland Security Today Magazine | May 2009 31