FEMA Administrator Encourages International Emergency Managers To Engage Public As Part Of The Team
Release Date: November 2, 2009
Release Number: HQ-09-135
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate today delivered the keynote address at the 57th Annual International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Conference at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Administrator Fugate was joined at the conference by FEMA leadership, including Deputy Administrator Richard Serino.
"This event is an important opportunity for many of our nation's emergency managers to share best practices and lessons learned as we continue to build our national emergency response team," said Administrator Fugate. "FEMA is only part of our nation’s emergency response team. This event allows us to focus on how we can better support local emergency managers, who are a key partner on this team and are the front line in the case of an emergency or disaster. Local emergency managers also play a key role in encouraging public preparedness. The public is a critical partner, and the more individuals do now to prepare, the stronger our national emergency response team will be during the next disaster."
The IAEM Annual Conference provides a forum for current trends, topics, and information about the latest tools and technology in emergency management and homeland security. Sessions encourage stakeholders at all levels of government, the private sector, public health and related professions to exchange ideas on collaborating to protect lives and property from disaster. In addition to the Administrator’s keynote address, FEMA will be exhibiting multiple programs at this year’s IAEM Conference. Those exhibits include:
IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System) will demonstrate innovative software that allows alerts and warnings to be targeted to geographic areas. The Geo-Targeted Alerting System (GTAS) is a joint development effort between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) Global Systems Division (GSD) and IPAWS. www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/
EMI (Emergency Management Institute), the lead national emergency management training, exercising, and education institution promotes integrated emergency management principles and practices through application of the National Response Framework, National Incident Management System, and an all hazards approach. EMI offers a full spectrum emergency management curriculum with more than 400 courses. www.training.fema.gov
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Last Modified: Monday, 02-Nov-2009 11:23:44