? REGION 2 BI-WEEKLY Volume 1, Issue 20 July 3, 2009 FACES OF REGION II BRICE ACOSTA Brice Acosta started as an Emergency Management Program Specialist in the Disaster Operations Division (DOD) in February. He is on the team developing the Region’s Hurricane Concept Plan and the Region’s Caribbean Hurricane Operations Plan. He also works with DOD staff on the Gap Analysis Program. Brice comes by his passion for emergency management honestly: He grew up in Louisiana where the threats of hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and coastal erosion pervade the everyday. While studying Disaster Science and Management at Louisiana State University, he interned with FEMA on the Hurricane Pam Exercise of 2004. He also worked emergency response for the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. Brice graduated from LSU in May 2005. In August of 2005, Katrina hit, and Brice joined FEMA as a local hire. Since then he’s worked as a DAE, CORE and finally became a PFT with his current position. In the course of his FEMA career, Brice has in worked Public Assistance, Operations, External Affairs, and Equal Rights. Brice reports moving from division to division within FEMA has been relatively easy. Not so the move to Brooklyn.  The Louisiana native reports a bit of culture shock. “I’m impressed with what people put up with  living in New York. Of all the places I’ve traveled or lived, I’ve never had to carry my groceries for blocks at a time, nor bring my laundry down the street and around the corner to a Laundromat. I’m amazed everyone here does that. I’m used to getting in my car, driving my groceries back to my door and doing laundry in my own home,” Brice says. But he’s learning NY apartment life. Brice is FEMA flexible. ‘THE BOSS’ ADDRESSES ALL-HANDS FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate (above, right) made Region II his second stop out of DC since taking up his new position. The former head of Emergency Management for the hurricane-prone state of Florida met with the Directors of Emergency Management for New York and New Jersey, as well as the those leading Nassau, Suffolk & Westchester counties. He also meet with NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Commissioner Joseph Bruno of NYCOEM. A City Hall press conference followed, at which all three stressed the importance of individual preparedness. Administrator Fugate also emphasized preparedness at a Region II All-Hands meeting held before his public schedule. Addressing a standing-room only crowd, Administrator Fugate said he was only interested in outcomes — meaning mitigating the affects of, and quickly recovering from, disasters. On an individual level that means 1. having a family emergency plan; 2. getting trained in CPR or other emergency response procedures to support and augment   trained in CPR or other emergency response procedures to support and augment first responders; and 3. securing your family and then checking on your neighbors. Institutionally, the outcome that concerns him is getting communities functioning post-disaster as quickly as possible, and he repeatedly emphasized the vital importance of the private sector in both emergency response and long term recovery to ensure successful outcomes. While Mr. Fugate praised the Stafford Act, he also said he was interested in filling the gap between when an incident occurs and when a disaster gets declared, noting the people may still need help even if a declaration never comes. He cited his experience with smaller incidents in Florida and again emphasized the vital role of the private sector and voluntary agencies. Acting Regional Administrator Michael Moriarty thanked Mr. Fugate for his direct, plainspoken approach in laying out his vision and taking questions, awarding him the Region’s highest honor: “You’re an honorary New Yorker.” FEMA CAD Director Alejandro De La Campa (right) joins Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuño (center) and PREPA Executive Director Miguel Cordero in the inaugural ceremony for PREPA’s 115Kv Underground Circuit Loop. The project was funded under Mitigation’s HMGP, and will ensure the transmission of energy to main security points, hospitals, the Luis Muñoz Marín Airport and main infrastructure facilities during and after hurricanes, thereby both mitigating damage and speeding recovery. The underground circuit is the longest in the nationwide, covering a 30 mile radius, ? CORRECTION: Last issue’s feature on Julia Roberts’ misstated her position. She is FEMA’s first, full time Long Term Community Recovery regional point of contact for ESF-14. (not 15, as erroneously stated. Thanks Leila for the eagle eye.) FEMA’s ADT card access system is being updated nationwide, and the process for 26 Federal Plaza is set for this week. All current FEMA badge holders will be required to physically come into the IT Communications Center to get their badges updated to work with the new system.  Badge updating will start at noon on 6 July 2009 and end at 10 July 2009.  Your current FEMA cards will not work with the new system after 20 July 2009.  The IT staff will address all those that miss the deadline on a case by case basis, but will not guarantee immediate service as they have other priorities. This only applies to the FEMA badge for 26 Federal Plaza and not the GSA Smart Card or JFO badges. RE-WIRING DISASTER DISASTER DAMAGE SECURITY UPDATE WAITING FOR THE BRASS... The All-Hands meeting featuring FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate was delayed by his meeting with the Region’s Division heads. Those waiting in the conference room took the time to enjoy themselves. RAD’s Pat Mason (right) with Administrator Fugate after the meeting broke up.