FEMA nominee pledges higher standard for disaster response

[babylonsister]

FEMA nominee pledges higher standard for disaster response

By Lesley Clark | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON — Craig Fugate, who oversaw the response to back to back hurricanes in Florida, said at his confirmation hearing Wednesday that he'd hold the Federal Emergency Management Agency to a "much higher standard of success" than its Hurricane Katrina performance.

Fugate, President Barack Obama's choice to head the agency, which was roundly criticized for its performance during the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane, got a friendly reception from senators, who warned him that there's plenty of work left to be done at FEMA.

Fugate pledged in prepared remarks to redouble the agency's efforts to "protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from all hazards."

"Judging FEMA's future success on the basis of whether it is 'better than Katrina' is not viable," Fugate said. "This standard does not, in my opinion, meet our sworn commitment to the American people. . . . I will hold FEMA's future response and recovery missions to a much higher standard of success."

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/politics/story/66706.html

[SemiCharmedQuark]

1. Pfft. I bet this guy doesn't know dick about Arabian horses though.

[babylonsister]

2. Actually, he looks like he has - gasp! - experience in emergency

mgmt!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Craig_Fugate


W. Craig Fugate is the Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. He was appointed director by Gov. Jeb Bush in 2001 and later re-appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist. In 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Fugate to be the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

A Floridian with over 28 years experience in emergency services, Craig has been involved in public service most of his adult life. Growing up in Alachua County, Craig was an active member of the Santa Fe High School Chapter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) earning the American Farmer Degree. Today he serves as the Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.