We received this report from FEMA addressing the challenges faced during the multiple catastrophes that hit the United States in 2017. As I read the report I could only think about how many lives were saved, how many individuals stepped out of their own challenges to help neighbors and even those hundreds of miles away. Perhaps in the future, we can all be more appreciative of the incredible challenges organizations like FEMA face and be grateful for the men and women who tackle situations most of us can only imagine. It is refreshing to see an organization take responsibility for its shortcomings and get right down to the business of addressing how to improve. I like the part where they skip over the name calling, blame laying, and excuse making and move ri9ght on to the problem solving. Would that other large organization could follow suit.
|
2017 Hurricane After-Action Report: The Full Story |
| WASHINGTON – The objective of the After-Action Report is to identify the challenges FEMA faced as a result of three catastrophic hurricanes and California’s wildfires and makes transformational recommendations to improve the entire emergency management community. NEWS REPORTS FEMA admits failure. FULL STORY After-action reports are part of FEMA’s standard procedures to improve the agency’s ability to respond to future disasters. FEMA overcame complex challenges using innovative approaches during the 2017 disaster season. NEWS REPORTS FEMA’s plans were incomplete and did not account for possible multiple major disasters in a short amount of time. FULL STORY Plans are not built to perfectly predict every scenario. FEMA, as a matter of practice, continuously assessed the situation, and adjusted existing plans as needed. FEMA showed agility in adjusting to meet survivor needs. NEWS REPORTS FEMA ran out of supplies for Puerto Rico. FULL STORY FEMA pre-positioned supplies to meet the anticipated immediate needs of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. FEMA shipped additional commodities to the Caribbean in anticipation of future storms and strategically placed supplies offshore while Hurricane Maria made landfall. Over the course of the 2017 hurricane season, FEMA moved more than $2 billion in commodities across affected states and territories. While distribution of commodities proved challenging, the supplies did not run out. NEWS REPORTS FEMA did not provide adequate meals. FULL STORY The Puerto Rico feeding mission was the largest and longest in the agency’s history. The agency worked extensively with private sector entities, non-governmental organizations, and other Federal agencies to provide a full range of meal options, from ready-to-eat to hot meals. NEWS REPORTS FEMA was understaffed and was [unexpectedly] forced to rely on staff from other agencies to fulfill its mission. FULL STORY No jurisdiction or federal agency has all the staff and resources it will need to respond to a catastrophic incident. The Surge Capacity Force is specifically designed to augment FEMA staffing needs during major incidents. During the 2017 Hurricane Season, FEMA deployed 4,063 staff through the Surge Capacity Force, three times more than during the response to Hurricane Sandy. NEWS REPORTS FEMA was uninformed. FULL STORY One of the biggest challenges FEMA faced was the loss of communication due to disaster impacts. FEMA has an objective in its new 2018-2022 strategic plan to improve resilient communications capabilities. # # # |
| FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.twitter.com/fema, www.twitter.com/femaspox, www.facebook.com/fema and www.youtube.com/fema. Also, follow Administrator Brock Long’s activities at www.twitter.com/fema_brock. The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications. |
William B. “Brock” Long was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and began his service as the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in June 2017. Mr. Long has more than 16 years of experience assisting and supporting local, state, and Federal Governments with building robust emergency management and public health preparedness programs.
