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A message from Teresa Scott, Emergency Management Committee Chair, 2007-08:
Over the last decade there have been many disaster situations that have made us realize that to combat the threat of terrorism and
prepare for all hazards, all emergency response disciplines must work together during prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery
operations. Interagency coordination, communication, and collaboration are vital to achieve the most effective, efficient response
possible. No single discipline functions independently.
Public Works provides many vital functions during an emergency response. In active, front line roles such as participation in search
and rescue efforts; flood control and mitigation; restoration of lifelines; establishment and operation of emergency evacuation routing
and perimeter controls; damage assessments; and structure stabilization efforts. There are also many support services provided by Public
Works that are critical for other responders to perform their functions such as fueling and maintenance of vehicles, provision of water for
fire fighting operations, and technical expertise in search and rescue operations.
The Emergency Management Committee meets regularly with elected and Federal officials to discuss the public works role, participates on national
committees and task forces to ensure public works is included in planning and policy direction, and develops emergency management related
publications and training for APWA members.
As public works professionals we must each take an active role in our respective jurisdiction's homeland security and emergency management
programs, including emergency planning initiatives and emergency response operations. It is important that we continue our efforts of
integrating the public works team into emergency response to ensure our nation can prevent, prepare for, respond to, or recover from any
disaster as quickly and efficiently as possible. We must continue reaching out to one another across our jurisdictional lines to ensure
mutual aid is available to assist one another in responding to and recovering from disasters.
If you would like to be involved in the work of the Emergency Management Committee, please contact me or any of the other committee members.
Thank you for visiting our web page and be sure to browse around before you go!
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During a recent Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) meeting, APWA Homeland Security Task Force Chair Brian Usher asked how public works and utilities could ensure that their concerns and needs were being considered as funding moved through the states. The answer was "the local Chapters should begin dialogs with their state and county emergency management agencies as soon as possible stating their needs and concerns." Often the public works profession prefers to function in the background. In this case, that could lead to missed opportunities to address communications, training, technical support and mutual aid concerns. The following links provide you with a list of contacts and a sample letter of introduction.
- State Points of Contact for FEMA FY02 Supplemental Grants [PDF]
- Sample state letter of introduction [RTF]
- The Essential Role of Public Works in Emergency Management fact sheet [PDF]
Links to other Emergency Management-related sites:
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Grants/Cooperative Agreements
Grants/Cooperative Agreements