a call to action by and for emergency management
I’ve always been interested in history and how groups of people have willingly been oppressed without “fighting back” in any form or fashion. For those of you at the state and local levels, if you think that a 30-40% staff reduction at the federal level won’t impact you—think again. Not to mention what happens when entire classes of grants are reduced or completely eliminated. Rather than bemoan your fate when it comes, do something today to be proactive. The recommendations below are good one and as “individual citizens” you can contact your elected representatives—representing yourself, not the organization. You have expertise, share it with the people who represent you. I’d also send it to state and local representatives, so they understand the implications.
This was written and posted on LinkedIn by
Emergency Managers. It’s time to mobilize. Here’s a playbook.
Three Things You Can Do To Support The Future of Emergency Management:
1️. Contact your local and state elected officials and community leaders. Educate and inform them on the emergency management enterprise. Disasters MUST be federally supported, state-managed, and locally executed and directed. That last part is important (and my own addition). Emphasize the importance of federal grants on our mission and our ability to serve communities. Recommend the creation of a state and local Disaster Relief Fund. Remember, there is power in numbers; engage your colleagues locally, in the private sector, and your state associations to amplify these messages.
2. Contact federal representatives—as many as you can. If you need to prioritize, start with the US House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure members and the House and Senate Committees on Homeland Security. Educate and inform the members on the emergency management enterprise. Disasters MUST be federally supported, state-managed, and locally executed and directed. Emphasize the importance of federal grants on our mission and our ability to serve communities. Federal grants MUST keep flowing until a permanent reform solution is in place. Local emergency management voices must also have a seat at the FEMA Review Council table.
3️. Share your story. Record a video, 30 seconds to 1-minute max, with your first-person point of view explaining who we are, why our mission is so important, and why we need support to continue helping people before, during, and after disasters. Post the video online and tag members of the media, Congress, FEMA, and other organizations to help get online traction. Then, consider writing opinion editorials and submitting them to local media outlets to educate the public about emergency management.
It’s true. The national disaster management system needs reform. But that reform cannot jeopardize our mission. We must have an emergency management presence at the federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector levels. And the reality is that we need MORE capacity at all levels. Not less.
Members of the International Association of Emergency Managers, please check IAEM Connect and your email for an additional Call to Action. Consider joining the Government Affairs Committee and the Community and Member Engagement Committee, as both groups are diligently working on this issue.
In November, at the IAEM Annual Conference, I issued a challenge to emergency managers everywhere. This is the year of the Maverick. Now is the time to BE a Maverick. Be bold. Be intentional and strategic. Be calculated and smart. But don’t jeopardize your organization, your career, or the emergency management enterprise in the process. We got this.”
