- WASHINGTON D.C. --
Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness
and Response and head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
today urged all fire and emergency services departments not to respond
to counties and states affected by Hurricane Katrina without being requested
and lawfully dispatched by state and local authorities under mutual aid
agreements and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
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- "The response to Hurricane Katrina must be well
coordinated between federal, state and local officials to most effectively
protect life and property," Brown said. "We appreciate the willingness
and generosity of our Nation's first responders to deploy during disasters.
But such efforts must be coordinated so that fire-rescue efforts are the
most effective possible."
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- The U.S. Fire Administration, part of FEMA, asks that
fire and emergency services organizations remain in contact with their
local and state emergency management agency officials for updates on requirements
in the affected areas.
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- "It is critical that fire and emergency departments
across the country remain in their jurisdictions until such time as the
affected states request assistance," said U.S. Fire Administrator
R. David Paulison. "State and local mutual aid agreements are in place
as is the Emergency Management Assistance Compact and those mechanisms
will be used to request and task resources needed in the affected areas."
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- Paulison said the National Incident Management System
is being used during the response to Hurricane Katrina and that self-dispatching
volunteer assistance could significantly complicate the response and recovery
effort.
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- FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages
federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident.
FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works
with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood
Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
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- http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18470
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