Art's Message

The Bridge Graphic

I'm excited about this issue of The Bridge because of its recurrent theme - the importance of building strong partnerships. The article on the Winooski River Ice Jam of '07 is a prime example of how cooperation among federal, state and local agencies can positively impact the outcome of an event.

The Bridge signifies unification. In FEMA Region I, we are trying to unify our region by building strong partnerships that will help us all cross turbulent waters. I'm not talking about exchanging business cards - I'm talking about truly understanding each other's roles and responsibilities in emergency management. This means recognizing that all government agencies and the private sector depend upon each other during disasters.

Over the past 12 months, our partnerships have been tested by a series of trainings and exercises -- most notably Ardent Century and PANEX. These key exercises unified stakeholders within all six New England states and allowed us to evaluate our capabilities. We will continue to work with our state and local partners to determine what capabilities and GAPS may exist. We will diligently work together to figure out which resources are still needed, some examples include sheltering, power restoration, fueling resources and debris removal. This effort will help FEMA focus on meeting community needs during an event.

The newly released National Response Framework is our guide for conducting an all-hazards incident response. It defines roles and responsibilities for the public and private sector. In Region I, we began forming relationships with the private sector about 18 months ago. This new partnership continues to grow as we further engage in opportunities to work together towards a common goal. Not the least of which is improving our ability to communicate vital information to citizens in the private sector directly through our business partners.

We look forward to working together throughout 2008 and strengthening our partnership with you so as to make us all better prepared for the future.

Arthur W. Cleaves is the Regional Administrator for FEMA Region I in Boston.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 26-Feb-2008 11:56:37 EST