Natural Hazard Observer Nov 2005

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9 u volunteers to help vulnerable Americans make their homes and communities safer and better prepared for emergencies of all kinds. By training Meals on Wheels volunteers in emergency preparedness, the often under - served vulnerable populations will have greater access to critical preparedness information, guidance, and assur- ance. For more information about Citizen Corps, visit http://Www.citizencorps.gov/. To learn more about the Meal on Wheels Association of America, visit http: // www.mowaa.org/. NOD Releases Findings of Katrina Rapid Assessment Teams ----`-151 U-,;t8 On October 5, the National Organization on Disability (NOD) released the findings of its Hurri- cane Katrina rapid assessment teams and announced the formation of an independent task force to address the system -wide challenges brought to light after Katrina. Four assessment teams were deployed in re- sponse to the devastation and loss of life caused by Hurricane Katrina to investigate the status of re- sponse and recovery for the special needs popula- tions, which included people with disabilities, the elderly, and medically managed individuals. Their goal was to identify and review systemic points of weakness and opportunities for immediate actionable corrections to alleviate suffering during emergency response operations. The teams gathered data on gaps in response ef- forts and on long -term recovery needs. They also collected information to support or disprove "sto- ries" that emerged from the disability and senior communities. Their findings and recommendations for action are available in the full 16 -page report, which can be accessed at http://Www.nod.org/Re sources /PDFs /katrina snake_report.pdf. Additional information about NOD and its Emergency Prepar- edness Initiative can be found at http: / /www. nod . org /emergency/. Report on the Status of 9/11 Commission Recommendations On September 14, the 9/11 Public Discourse Project, the nonprofit successor organization to the 9/11 Commis- sion, released the first of several reports that will assess the status of the 41 recommendations made by the com- mission in July 2004 to make the United States safer and more secure. In Report on the Status of 9111 Commission Recommendations —Part 1. Homeland Security, Emer- gency Preparedness and Response the project participants examine recommendations made in the areas of emer- gency preparedness and response, transportation security, and border security. Of the 14 recommendations covered, 4 were deemed unsatisfactory, 7 had made minimal pro- gress, and 3 (all in border security) had made some pro- gress. Find out more about the project and download a copy of the report at http://Www.9-llpdp.org/. FEMA after Andrew: Revisiting the Past After Hurricane Andrew tore through southern Flor- ida in 1992, Congress asked the National Academy of Public Administration to conduct several studies of the federal government's capacity to respond effectively to major natural disasters. The first report, released in 1993, examined the ca- pabilities and performance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during and after Hurricane Andrew. The report, Coping with Catastrophe: Building an Emergency Management System to Meet People's Needs in Natural and Manmade Disaster (165 pp.), fo- cused on: • Executive branch coordination and contingency plan- ning, including leadership by the president; • State and local government capability and coordination with the federal government; • FEMA's role, mission, planning, resources, and leader- ship capabilities; • The effectiveness of governmental responses to major disasters prior to the establishment of FEMA; • Lessons applicable to future disasters; • Congressional oversight practices involving disaster assistance; and • Governmental coordination with private relief agencies, businesses, and citizen initiatives. A 1994 follow -up report came at the request of then FEMA director James Lee Witt. Review of Actions Taken to Strengthen the Nation's Emergency Management Sys- tem (76 pp.) assessed the progress made in implementing recommendations to strengthen FEMA and the nation's emergency management system during his first six months in office. The academy acted in an advisory capacity for this follow -up report. Both reports provide interesting reading and a sense of d6ja vu and are available for free on the academy's Web site at http: / /www.napawasli.org /. 19 Natural Hazards Observer November 2005