FEMA RELEASES RESPONSE TO 2020 NAC REPORT
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20211026/fema-releases-response-2020-nac-report]


Release Date: 
October 26, 2021 

WASHINGTON -- Today, FEMA released the agency’s response
[https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_response-2020-nac-report.pdf]
to the National Advisory Council’s (NAC) annual report.

The “National Advisory Council’s Report to the FEMA Administrator
[https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_nac-report_11-2020.pdf],”
was released in November 2020.

This report marked the first time the NAC members were charged with
specific areas of concern to address in the field of emergency
management, rather than open-ended topics.  The report, and FEMA’s
response, focuses on four main themes -- equity, outcomes,
coordination and what works.

“We value our NAC partners’ commitment to advancing FEMA’s
mission by identifying opportunities in which we can improve and
streamline the delivery of our programs,” said  FEMA Administrator
Deanne Criswell. “We are proud of what the agency has achieved thus
far, and we will remain steadfast in our pursuit of infusing equity
throughout our programs, bolstering coordination with our
stakeholders and focusing our efforts on delivering positive outcomes
for communities nationwide.”

At the beginning of her tenure in April 2021, Administrator
Criswell charged the agency’s leadership with reviewing and
responding to the report through the lens of the Biden
Administration’s priorities on equity, climate change and
readiness.  

While the agency’s formal response was delayed due to the ongoing
COVID-19 vaccination mission, FEMA did not waste time in
implementing the report’s recommendations. The agency at the
direction of the Administrator, implemented or began to execute on
recommendations, including: 

 	* Establishing  an Equity Enterprise Steering Group, which created
a definition of equity
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20210909/fema-defines-equity-its-mission-making-programs-more-accessible]
for the agency. 
 	* Altering the individual assistance program 
[https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual/policy-guidance-and-fact-sheets]to reduce
barriers to access experienced by underserved populations. 
 	* Implementing Risk Rating 2.0,
[https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance/risk-rating] which
will drive more risk-informed and
equitable rates for NFIP policyholders. 
 	* Deploying the National Resource Hub
[https://preptoolkit.fema.gov/web/national-resource-hub],
which provides a suite of tools to governments to assist
their resource management preparedness. 
 	* Launching a culturally competent National Preparedness Month
campaign  [http://www.Ready.gov/september]to reach Latino
communities. 

The NAC consists of up to 35 members, including a diverse
cross-section of officials, emergency managers and emergency
responders from state, local, tribal and territorial
governments, the private sector and non-
governmental organizations.  Collectively, these
members provide advice to the FEMA Administrator through
recommendations on all aspects of emergency management.