FEMA Office of National Preparedness News Release
FEMA's Office of National Preparedness (ONP) estimates that it has received over 800 responses from
the first responder community and others in connection with its request for
comment on the proposed First Responder Initiative grants process published
in the Federal Register on April 16.
FEMA officials say they believe the magnitude of this response is at least
twice that of any other the agency has ever received. The notice was
published in the Federal Register as part of a preliminary process to enable
the agency to implement the grants program quickly if funding is approved by
Congress.
At this time, the President's request for first responder funds for FEMA in
the FY 2002 supplemental and FY 2003 budget are not affected by his recently
announced proposal for a new Department of Homeland Security. FEMA and ONP
will continue work as the reorganization moves forward and their efforts are
folded into the proposed Department.
The comments on the first responder grants program came from individual
firefighters and fire chiefs, police officers, search and rescue teams,
emergency medical personnel and state and local emergency managers. The
agency also heard from cities, towns, counties, fire departments, county
sheriff's departments, ambulance services, regional planning agencies,
universities, fire rescue training centers, training officers, National
Guard members, hazardous materials medical officers, and more than 75
members of a state firefighters association.
At least one an individual or organization from each of the 50 states and
the District of Columbia sent in their comments, with the highest number of
responses received from California, New York, Texas and Virginia. The
responses to FEMA's first responder initiative are overwhelmingly positive.
ONP heard from the team leader of a K-9 Search and Rescue Team in
Colorado, about 15 members of a state health officers association, and an
emergency medical technician who closed his written comments by saying:
"Thank you for taking the time to ask for feedback. Your assistance is very
sorely needed to help prepare us, who will be at the front line of any
incident occurring in our community."
A detailed analysis of the responses is now under way at FEMA's ONP. The
following are some of the general trends identified in an initial review of
about 400 of the responses:
- There is great debate and question over the definition of a
first responder, with most individuals expressing this concern urging a
broader definition.
- Generally, most jurisdictions report that they participate
in mutual aid agreements.
- Discussion regarding standards focused on equipment,
including communications interoperability, and training, as well as response
guidelines.
- Regarding grant allocations, respondents recommended a
number of factors be considered including population, need and threat.
- Less than half of the responses reviewed indicated that they
had an organization in place to prepare grant applications.
- There appears to be a fairly even split of jurisdictions
that have established Citizen Corps (or similar organization) and those that
have not.
- Many comments included equipment requests and
recommendations about what should be covered under this program.
- Many respondents said that equipment shouldn't be provided
without training in how to use it.
- Many commented on the importance of not forgetting rural
communities and tribes.
"The First Responder Grants Program MUST include emergency communications
(E-911) centers as eligible recipients of grant monies," wrote one
individual. "As we all know 9/11 created an overload on for all emergency
services; however, please keep in mind that the "first responder" response
starts with the answering of the emergency call from the citizen or
emergency personnel."
A fire chief from Oklahoma called for mutual aid and regional response
concept. "State and local governments can work together to accomplish the
goals of this program by implementing a 'regional response' concept within
each state," said the chief in his response. "Cooperative agreements between
the states and the local jurisdictions can be worked out so that both
entities receive mutual benefit. One or more local jurisdictions would be
identified.... [And] the local jurisdiction would identify the "first
response" personnel ...to be trained by the state.... A regional response
would satisfy the ambitions and requirements of this program, and at the
same time provide a very efficient use of available funds."
A paramedic from Ohio pointed out the need to provide training for first
responders from selected small to mid-size cities so they can back up large
cities in case of terrorist attack. A firefighter from Texas recommended
training regional response teams, while a town in the northeast emphasized
the importance of mutual aid and the need for larger communities to agree to
respond in support of smaller jurisdictions that don't have specialized
equipment. A hospital recommended that grant awards be based on risk,
effective planning and need.
On June 6, the President called for a new Department of Homeland Security
incorporating the functions that FEMA performs as a key part of the mission
of the new department. The structure of the newly proposed department
recognizes that FEMA's mission and core competencies are essential
components of homeland security. The new department would strengthen the
country's ability to carry out important activities, such as building the
capacity of state and local emergency response personnel to respond to
emergencies and disasters of all kinds. A central part of the department's
emergency preparedness and response function would be built directly on the
foundation established by FEMA and the effort to reduce the loss of life and
property and to protect the nation's institutions from all types of hazards
through a comprehensive, risk-based, all-hazards emergency management
program would continue.
