4/21/09: Questions Released: FEMA Nominee’s Confirmation Hearing Wednesday

04/21/2009 Ben Smilowitz Comments Closed

April 21, 2009

Contact: Ben Smilowitz, 314-761-7631

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Disaster Accountability Project Calls For Meaningful Confirmation Hearing of FEMA Administrator Nominee

Prepares Questions For Craig Fugate’s Confirmation Hearing Set For Wednesday, 4/22 @ 10AM

DAP to Nominee: “Tell The Public How You Will Fix FEMA Before Your Confirmation”

On Wednesday, April 22, the Senate Homeland Security Committee is set to confirm Craig Fugate for FEMA’s top spot. The Disaster Accountability Project is asking Craig Fugate, the President’s FEMA Administrator nominee, to explain how he plans to fix FEMA before he is confirmed. The bungled response to Hurricane Katrina underscores the need for the Senate to provide comprehensive FEMA oversight.

–Selected Questions For Committee Below–

Full Text : http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/dap-fema-confirmation-questions.pdf

The Baton Rouge Advocate editorial staff endorsed the Disaster Accountability Project’s position that the Senate should use Mr. Fugateís confirmation hearing as an opportunity to learn if, and exactly how, FEMA is turning a new page.

See: http://www.2theadvocate.com/opinion/41004072.html

“The Senate has an opportunity to create a new ‘culture of accountability’ in the confirmation of a new FEMA Administrator. Wednesday’s hearing should set clear benchmarks for FEMA improvements that the public can monitor. The nation cannot afford a rubber-stamping of FEMA’s leader while the nation remains dangerously unprepared for hurricane season and other man-made and natural hazards,” said Ben Smilowitz, Executive Director of the Disaster Accountability Project.

To achieve that end, the Disaster Accountability Project has prepared a number of questions the organization is sending to Senators and Mr. Fugate. Full-text of the questions and more extensive background can be downloaded here:
http://blog.disasteraccountability.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/dap-fema-confirmation-questions.pdf

–Summary of Selected Questions–

Question on Supporting Local Emergency Plan Development: As FEMA Administrator, what will you do to ensure state and local governments maintain the most comprehensive and updated emergency plans? Would you support attaching requirements to FEMA’s preparedness grants that require state and local governments to maintain updated and comprehensive emergency plans? (page 5)

Question on Mass Care: Given the fact that the Red Cross is not capable of filling the role of primary agency for mass care, how can FEMA compensate and ensure that mass care services will be adequately provided? When will FEMA clearly document the expectations of the Red Cross and other volunteer organizations relating to mass care? (page 8)

Question on Post-Disaster Communications: As FEMA Administator, how will FEMA work with states and vulnerable communities to ensure information about post-disaster relief services is provided effectively, especially when television and internet is not available? Might FEMA provide preparedness grants to states, counties, or municipalities to create radio stations dedicated to providing emergency information? (page 10)

Question on Disability Policy: In light of Section 513 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act and the federal governmentís commitment to providing disaster preparedness and assistance to individuals with disabilities, as FEMA Administrator, how will you prioritize the creation of these regional disability coordinator positions and fund these positions in the current or next fiscal year? (page 12)

Question on Economy and First Responder Budget Cuts: As FEMA Administrator, 1) how will FEMA address the increasing number of cuts in first-responder services across the United States? 2) What is FEMA’s role in assisting local first-responder units facing cuts due to state and municipal budget deficits? 3) What changes would you make to these grant programs? (page 14)

Question On Housing: Under your leadership as FEMA Administrator, a) will FEMA focus on a short- or long-term housing strategy, b) what efforts will be made to ensure this planning happens before a major storm so people know what to expect from their government, c) how will you prioritize this? (page 17)

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The Disaster Accountability Project (DAP) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the improvement of the United States disaster management systems through public accountability, citizen oversight and empowerment, whistle-blower engagement, and policy research and advocacy. The Disaster Accountability Project’s website is https://disasteraccountability.org.

A toll-free hotline (866-9-TIP-DAP) is available as a public service for disaster survivors, workers and volunteers to report critical gaps in disaster prevention, response, relief, and recovery services or planning. The group is recruiting a national network of Disaster Accountability Monitors and Bloggers to help report, verify, and publicize gaps in disaster services or planning.

Disaster Accountability Project is a 2008 Echoing Green Fellowship Organization.

For more information: http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/ben-smilowitz

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