Abolish FEMA?

Articles

Abolish FEMA?

By Michelle Malsbury
Apr. 28, 2006

There has been much discussion of late about the pathetic role of FEMA with regard to last seasons disaster assistance and recovery, especially in the Gulf region. Last year every person that had any responsibility in these efforts pointed their fingers at another instead of accepting that responsibility and trying to work past an already difficult situation. Now as the 2006 season begins to unfold and numerous credible resources predict this season may be even more devastating than the last, heated discussions have become open debates.

Some members of congress are asking, others are outright demanding, that we abolish FEMA and all they have stood for. I fail to see their line of reasoning here. With regard to last years foible, FEMA cannot alone be blamed for that debacle. Common sense tells us that there was no plan in place for dealing with a disaster of this magnitude or lesser impact. There was negligence from Mayor Nagen up to the Governor in Louisiana even with appropriate notice to evacuate from the National Hurricane Center. There was failure of our federal government to deploy the resources to adequately assist in a speedy and comprehensive recovery. In essence there was a complete lack of leadership at any level.

With these questions still unanswered and no plan in place to overcome these or perhaps more crucial obstacles, we need to concentrate on the issues and look into comprehensive and workable solutions. For years FEMA did a fine job in the capacity they had held. Apparently they had competent leadership and comprehensive plans for the deployment of necessary resources in the event of eminent or impending disasters. They served the people of these impacted areas well and thus garnered the respect they deserve.

Bush appointed Brown to head FEMA in 2000. Brown had no experience in this highly visible post and thus lacked the critical know-how to get the job done. This is not a leadership position that can afford OJT, on the job training, sans firsthand experience. The people leading this department need to be qualified, experienced, and educated people in the area of disaster relief and recovery. They need to have a keen idea as to the logistics of how a well conceived plan should unfold and who should be responsible for what. Without good and effective leadership coupled with adequate planning and allocation of resources, along with good and effective communication, no agency can possibly attempt to get ahead of this roller coaster ride. To this end, Brown made some feeble attempts and Bush brushed them aside without so much regard as to verifying the facts or implementing a plan.

Let's reflect on FEMA. FEMA evolved back in 1974 under the Disaster Relief Act that was then amended in 1988. They (FEMA) were absorbed under the Department of Homeland Security in 2003. (www.fema.gov)

FEMA has more than 2,600 regular full-time employees and approximately 4,000 standby employees for deployment after disasters have occurred. They work in partnership with state, local, and county Emergency Management personnel as well as 27 other federal agencies and the Red Cross. What does FEMA do? (www.fema.gov)

During Clinton's tenure as President I had occasion to work with FEMA as a volunteer for Emergency Management in Monroe County, Florida and a liaison for the DCA, Department of Community Affairs in Monroe County, Florida. I worked alongside numerous selfless FEMA and DCA personnel who were deployed within the State of Florida to aid our efforts in disaster assistance and recovery during hurricane season. Monroe County Emergency Management led by Jerry O'Cathy at that time provided us (volunteers) with the overall comprehensive plan and a true sense of direction. Prior to the first days of hurricane season we held workshops and brainstormed about how best to resolve any number of potential issues that might stem from a direct hit to being skirted by the feeder bands to problems involving wind and rain or high water. What did we do?

Each morning we (volunteers and employees) met with the heads of Emergency Management, the DCA, and county and local government officials. We reviewed what we had already accomplished and how effective we were so that we could adequately determine what the next task in line for our overall goals might be. We began to construct a timeline and a means for determining what path worked best for what situation. We took copious notes and compiled data to present to each agency to ensure we were all on the same page and moving toward to same outcome. Some days we made more progress than others, but we were well coordinated and led. I have great respect for all persons working in FEMA, the DCA, and Monroe County Emergency Management during that time span. (1993-2000)

Once the disaster was declared and the storms threat was eminent FEMA and the DCA set up temporary offices where we (volunteers and employees) were responsible for getting the word out to our citizens as to where to file and how to file for financial assistance. We walked door to door from daylight until well after dusk each day, for weeks at a time, meeting with people. First and foremost was to let them (the people impacted by these disasters) know that there was assistance available and there were capable people from these organizations waiting to help them. People who cared and could make a difference. We provided information via flyer as to where to go to get food and water until we were back on line with our city power and water in Monroe County. As we received information from our City and County Managers about the restoration of power and water, the removal of water and wind ruined items that had been placed street side, resuming regular trash removal, and any number of other important information we passed this information along to our citizens so they could understand how we were working as fast as humanly possible to get things back to some facsimile of normal for them.

At the time that I volunteered for Emergency Management they were under the umbrella of FEMA and FEMA was not subject to the regulations and bureaucracy of the Department of Homeland Security. I honestly feel that things were better coordinated and more was accomplished as their own entity and that instead of abolishing a department that has helped many people get past some serious situations we need to reorganize and establish some credible and capable people to lead this important department into any future disaster relief and recovery efforts. Please call or write your congress people to tell them that abolishing FEMA is not the answer, but merely a knee jerk reaction to bad leadership.

Sources;

www.fema.gov

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About the author: Michelle Malsbury was born and raised in Champaign, Illinois. Currently she resides in Florida. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Business Management and a Masters Degree in Business Management.

Travels have taken her from Europe through the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and across much of the United States.

She enjoys outdoor activities like sailing, water-skiing, hiking, bike riding, working out, and fishing as well as reading, music, theater, playing with her two amusing pets (Abu Chez, her 7.5 year old Australian Blue Heeler and Zack, her three year old yellow tabby cat) and writing.

"Three Years With Adonis" is the first to be published of several books that she has written. It is now available in all the better bookstores, but can also be found and ordered at Amazon.com, Booksamillion.com, Barnesandnoble.com, or ordered directly from her web sites, www.3yearswithadonis.com, www.threeyearswithadonis.com, or www.MichelleMalsbury.com. In addition to "Three Years With Adonis", she has authored four other books and three screenplays while continuing to explore all that life hands her.

Email Michelle Malsbury: zackywacks@aol.com

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