Work With Private Sector, Plan for the Worst, Says FEMA Administrator

By: Elaine Pittman on January 17, 2012

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A shop was open for business in New Orleans in October 2005, despite the sidewalk being blocked by crushed vehicles and debris leftover from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Photo courtesy of Robert Kaufmann/FEMA.

The lessons learned from hurricanes Katrina and Rita not only have been used by U.S. governments at all levels, but also other countries. After the hurricanes, delegations from countries including Australia, Japan and Haiti visited New Orleans to study what happened. And furthering those relationships and best practices is a focus of the International Disaster Conference and Expo in New Orleans.

Pat Santos, deputy director of Louisiana’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, told attendees on Tuesday, Jan. 17, that emergency managers and planners should remember that it’s not if a disaster strikes but when, and improving response and preparedness capabilities is for one reason: the people.

More than 26 countries were represented at the conference, which also focused on promoting public-private partnerships. FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate echoed the focus during his keynote speech saying that the public sector should reverse the mindset of asking the private sector what it can do for government and instead find out what companies need for planning and recovery. In some cases, government has been an impediment to companies being able to get up and running following a disaster. Government-enforced rules, like curfews, can prevent a company from being able to restock its shelves and provide for its community.

Fugate gave an example from his time as emergency management director for Florida. In 2005, Hurricane Wilma “did not follow our plan,” he said. Wilma left about 6 million residents without power and the state was operating under the assumption that if power was out, businesses would be standing by until it was restored. Points of distribution were set up to provide residents with supplies. But then-Gov. Jeb Bush observed something interesting from one of the distribution areas: People were waiting in line to pick up water while eating fast food. “The retail sector figured out that you do not want to be the last store to open,” Fugate said.

By partnering with the private sector and helping companies reopen after a disaster, everyone benefits – residents can get supplies and the government can direct its focus to other issues.

Fugate also stressed that planning and exercises should include catastrophes – the maximum of maximums. “We tend to plan for what we can do,” he said. The complexity of disasters has grown due to population densities and the possibility of technology failures. Planning for low-probability but high-impact disasters is necessary. “If you’re in government, we have to get out of the mindset … that we can scale up.”

Finally he touched on the Whole Community concept. The idea isn’t new, but using the term “whole community” is a simple way to say that everyone should be included – this means nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and all government agencies as well as the public. The public should not be looked at as a liability that must be taken care of, Fugate said adding that last year residents became the first responders by digging one another out of rubble after tornadoes damaged areas.

It all ties into the thought that it’s not if a disaster will strike, but when one will. Fugate said communities that thought they were immune were impacted by disasters last year. Even Hurricane Katrina was a fluke – the worst-case scenario for New Orleans had been a storm coming up the river. But by establishing relationships now and planning for high-impact events, communities and the nation will be better prepared.

You may use or reference this story with attribution and a link to
http://www.emergencymgmt.com/disaster/Work-With-Private-Sector-Plan-for-the-Worst-Says-FEMA-Administrator.html

Elaine Pittman

Elaine Pittman is the associate editor of Emergency Management magazine.

E-mail: epittman@emergencymgmt.com

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