Editorial ignores FEMA’s success

Jonathan Thompson Washington, D.C.
Published: August 1, 2008

The Daily Progress editorial of July 28 (“Again, FEMA fails miserably”) ignores the serious progress that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and our partners at every level of government have made in providing temporary housing to disaster victims and in planning for the future.

FEMA issued the 2008 Disaster Housing Plan on June 10, and this plan is working. We followed this with a proposed housing strategy for strengthening the plan and expanding our housing options in the future. The strategy summarizes, for the first time in a single document, the many sheltering and housing capabilities, principles and policies that guide and inform the disaster housing process. It also charts the new direction that our disaster housing efforts must take to better meet the disaster housing needs of individuals and communities moving forward.

The strategy is not intended to be a quick fix. The plan is the key for those in need today, and it is in effect and is working across the Midwest and in Texas.

The Progress is wrong to state that “outside advice wasn’t considered.” In developing both the plan and the strategy, FEMA worked with our partners across every level of government as well as in the private sector. We continue to work with these partners to finalize the annexes that address other elements of housing, and I encourage your readers to visit http://www.FEMA.gov, review the documents and make their own recommendations directly to our team.

The newspaper’s decision to criticize delays at the same time it demands greater involvement from numerous sources is contradictory.

FEMA has made major reforms in recent years. The Progress is correct to ask if the public can “rely on FEMA to safely house disaster victims.” Our response: Actions speak louder than words. The results are evident in our successful response to disasters as varied as California’s fires, the Midwest floods and Hurricane Dolly. Calling for reform while ignoring its reality does Daily Progress readers a disservice.

Jonathan Thompson is director of external affairs for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.