WASHINGTON, May 25 /PRNewswire/ -- AFGE, the union representing workers ofthe Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), today raised questions aboutthe preparedness of the agency for the 2006 hurricane season.
Leo Bosner, AFGE local president at FEMA headquarters, explained thatexperienced staffers have quit FEMA as the agency's budget and authority havebeen stripped from it under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). ManyFEMA jobs today are filled by newly hired staff members who have receivedlittle or no training. Bosner said the exodus of seasoned employees hastenedin the months following last year's hurricane season. After HurricaneKatrina, many FEMA employees worked 7 days a week for two months or morewithout a day off, often working 12 to 18 hour days.
"Whether or not FEMA is ready for the hurricane season is a three-partquestion: are the staff ready; are there adequate supplies such as emergencyfood, water, and medicine; and are the top leaders at FEMA and DHS up to thejob?" said Bosner. "The experienced staff who have worked through manydisasters are ready, however there are fewer and fewer of them."
"FEMA's experienced staff were ready when Hurricane Katrina struck. Wesent strong warnings to FEMA and DHS leaders 48 hours before landfall. Thelack of adequate supplies and the lack of decisive, capable leaders at FEMAand DHS undermined our ability to assist the Americans whose lives wereupended by the storm," said Bosner.
Bosner pointed out that DHS still has the same leadership as a year ago.R. David Paulison, a former fire chief, now heads FEMA, as more experienceddisaster response managers have turned down the job. Meanwhile experiencedmid-level and senior managers continue to leave FEMA.
"FEMA employees have been assured there will be more supplies on hand thisyear. We hope that is true. But are DHS and FEMA leaders ready for hurricaneseason? Let's hope so," said Bosner.
AFGE is the largest federal employee union representing 600,000 workers inthe federal government and the government of the District of Columbia,including the largest constituency of DHS employees, comprising Customs &Border Protection, Border Patrol, Citizenship and Immigration Services,Immigration & Customs Enforcement, and Federal Law Enforcement Training Centerofficers; FEMA workers; TSA screeners; and civilian U.S. Coast Guardemployees.
SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees
News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.
