FEMA Discusses Industry Cooperation

The chapter welcomed Phil Strauss and Jeff Hill of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region IV in March. Strauss is a stakeholder relations liaison officer for FEMA in the region, and his role is to establish and cultivate private-sector relations in the eight-state region. The level of cooperation with the private sector greatly impacts the quality and speed of recovery after a disaster, explained Strauss. He works nonstop before, during and after a disaster to ensure the community gets back to normal as quickly as possible. Hill is the region information technology chief. His presentation focused more on the contracting interface and process that FEMA utilizes to fill its charter of rapid disaster relief. One can imagine supporting the data and voice communications requirements in a region with a populace of more than 140 million. Now, imagine that task working in a zone that was just destroyed by a natural disaster. FEMA has a tremendous responsibility once the White House has declared a disaster. As such, they are given broad powers to make things happen very quickly. The speakers related that FEMA needs industry support to accomplish its mission, but the time frame they work in is incredibly compacted. Lives are literally at stake. The chapter is looking to team up with FEMA Region IV to assist with future efforts.

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