Tag: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and the Texas Army National Guard, Air National Guard, and the Texas State Guard with the Texas Military Department are preparing for Hurricane Harvey. The Governor of Texas has already issued a State of Disaster declaration and the Governor […]

The House of Representatives and the Senate recently passed the RESPONSE Act of 2016, in an effort “to enhance emergency responder training for incidents involving hazardous-materials rail transportation.” The bill passed the House on November 29, and the Senate on December 10, before being signed into law by President Obama on December 16. The RESPONSE Act of 2016 […]

Earlier this month the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the publication of its 2016 National Preparedness Report. The report, which was issued this spring, evaluates core capabilities of U.S. government agencies tasked with providing emergency preparedness and response. FEMA’s report highlights several DHS initiatives, programs, and case studies that demonstrate their interagency efforts […]

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently published a report on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) implementation of the National Disaster Recovery Framework, which provides the overarching interagency coordination structure for the recovery phase of incidents and calls for a “whole community” approach to recovery. The report, GAO-16-476, examines FEMA’s implementation of the framework in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, New […]

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is looking for qualified individuals who are interested in serving on FEMA’s National Advisory Council (NAC). The NAC advises the FEMA administrator on all aspects of emergency management, ensuring effective and ongoing coordination of federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. […]

In late October, the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued the Community Resilience Planning Guide for Buildings and Infrastructure Systems to help U.S. communities better withstand and recover from natural disasters and other hazards.  The guide was developed by NIST with the help of specialists from multiple levels of community and government agencies, […]

Last week the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released their testimony on the progress made by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) since Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. The testimony is based on previous GAO reports that were issued between 2012 and 2015, and audits the progress FEMA has made in national preparedness, disaster response and recovery, […]

In September the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released the updated National Preparedness Goal. The National Preparedness Goal defines what it means for the whole community to be prepared for all types of disasters and emergencies, including natural disasters, disease pandemics, chemical spills and other manmade hazards, terrorist attacks, and cyber attacks. The National Preparedness […]

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently published a report assessing the American Red Cross’s cooperation with U.S. government agencies when providing disaster relief services. The report addresses the nature and extent of the Red Cross’s disaster services, how the Red Cross coordinates with the federal government on disaster assistance, and what external oversight exists of […]

Earlier this month the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report assessing the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster logistics efforts with interagency partners. GAO examined FEMA’s ability to deliver goods to disaster survivors, focusing on how well FEMA collaborated with federal partners and with state and local stakeholders. GAO found that FEMA has taken […]