Region I Debris Management Summit
Transcript of Debris Summit Opening Statements
Tim Barnett
Public Assistance Officer
FEMA Region I
I want to welcome everyone to the FEMA Region I Debris Management Plan Summit. We have very good representation from the federal, state and local levels and our federal partners: Army Corps of Engineers, DOT, DEP, United States Coast Guard just to name a few.
As part of the FEMA Catastrophic Planning Initiative and FEMA Region I Gap Analysis, the Public Assistance division in Region I has developed this summit to help build state ability to manage debris removal operations in a cost-effective and timely manner. The summit will also aid the state in developing FEMA approved debris plans.
This summit was designed so that the state participants will leave with the tools necessary to produce a comprehensive debris management plan. FEMA I and FEMA Headquarters are committed to assisting our six New England states and locals throughout this initiative.
Again, I would like to welcome all of you and look forward to a productive summit.
At this time, I think Art didn’t get a chance to make it so I’m going to turn it over to Albie Lewis, our FCO.
Albie Lewis
Federal Coordinating Officer
FEMA Region I
Good morning everyone. I’ll add my comments to welcome you here to the Debris Workshop. Let me just ask, if I can see hands, who are from the state? Any of the states? Excellent. Excellent.
You folks are really our focal point for the debris management side of the house and what I wanted to do in Art’s absence, is read a little comment that Art had come out with earlier. Let me just take a second to do this.
The expectations surrounding emergency management within the United States have significantly changed over the last several years. Although all disasters are considered local disasters, the role of the state and federal government in providing life-saving and life-sustaining support, has increased.
Here in the New England region and across the country, FEMA is working with their state partners to develop a Gap Analysis of emergency management in anticipation of a catastrophic event. This analysis will provide the states and the federal government with an understanding of the potential resource requirement needed following a major disaster.
Opening Comments Region I Debris Management Summit - 7/24/07
Last Modified: Tuesday, 14-Aug-2007 11:53:50 EDT