Federal Emergency Management Agency Director and Assistant Director

Federal
Emergency Management Agency Director and Assistant Director

Federal
Emergency Management Agency is accountable for coordinating emergency planning,
diligence, the minimization of risks, response, and resurgence. The agency
works with the government as well local states whereby, they fund the emergency
programs (Kahan,
2015)..
They also offer technical guidance and training to the states and local
governments. The FEMA’s Director is W. Craig Fugate, who has been in the
position since May 2009 (William Craig Fugate, 2015). Joseph L. Nimmich is the
Assistant Director; he has held the position since September 2014 (Joseph Nimmich, 2015). 
He took control of the position following his nomination by President
Barack Obama and successful confirmation by the Senate.

Federal
Emergency Management Agency Mission

The
Agency’s mission is to work with the citizens and the first responder so as to
make sure that the country works together to improve the nation’s security
(Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2016). 
FEMA aims at building, sustaining and enhancing the country’s ability to
prepare for and guard the state against all risks. It also works towards
ensuring that the country recovers from and alleviate all risks.

Federal
Emergency Management Agency Goal

The
Federal Emergency Management Agency’s goal is focused towards describing what
it means for the entire community to prepare for every kind of hazards and
emergencies (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2016). It emphasizes on
having a secure and resilient country with the ability needed in the entire
community to ensure that the country is safe from the threats and hazards that
create the highest risk. Some of the risks include natural disasters, the
leakage of chemicals, disease outbreaks as well as manmade disasters.

Federal
Emergency Management Agency Objectives

Some
of the FEMA’s objectives include accomplishing to offer the utmost support to
the American citizens in case of a catastrophe (Federal Emergency Management
Agency, 2016). The agency also plans to ensure that the people are protected
before and after a disaster. FEMA also plans that the nation is free and
protected from disasters.

Federal
Emergency Management Agency Primary Departments

FEMA’s
primary departments include the protection and National preparedness
department.  Another major department is
the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (FEMA Has Made Progress
Implementing Key Programs, but Opportunities for Improvement Exist, 2016).
Office of Equal Rights is another major department under FEMA. Office of
Federal insurance and mitigation is another department.

Federal
Emergency Management Agency Key activities

The
agencies Key activities include preparation whereby it finances the emergency
management programs in all the states. It is also involved in designing and
equipping emergency operations in various localities. Additionally, FEMA
participates in coordinating the federal state’s response to disasters. They
assist the local and state governments after a catastrophe. The response
mission includes activities such as providing and mobilizing emergency
equipment, helping people out of danger and giving them food, medical aid (FEMA
Has Made Progress Implementing Key Programs, but Opportunities for Improvement
Exist, 2016). FEMA is also accountable of repairing the damaged systems and
services. Besides, the agency is involved in creating long-term solutions. It
creates programs that participate in assisting in the preparation for
disasters. It also trains personnel to help in emergency management. FEMA is
also involved in minimizing risks, whereby, they offer people affordable flood
insurance. In this case, they work together with national insurance firms.  Another significant activity is recovery,
whereby, they facilitate loans and grant to the damaged areas.

Federal
Emergency Management Agency Mission Priorities

FEMA
focuses on enhancing its capability to responding to all hazards. Although the
agency has kept its promise on various occasions, it is significant for it to
boost its funding so as to enhance its response capabilities. In 2014, the
agency had issues while investigating the earthquake in Napa, California. During
that time, the event had not been declared a federal disaster which meant that
they could not use the emergency funds (Performance of Buildings and
Nonstructural Components in the 2014 South Napa Earthquake, 2015). Therefore,
the National Earthquake Technical Assistance Program could not investigate some
areas. Some of the sectors that were not investigated include the performance
of lifelines. They could not also examine other areas, and this meant that they
missed some information.

FEMA
should also prioritize in enhancing its employee credentialing process so as to
strengthen its capability in responding to all hazards. Research shows that the
agency has had various issues with employee credentialing. A study done in five
focus groups revealed that some of the officials did not focus on the FQS. The
FQS was established so as to assign and track different qualifications and
skills of the agencies employees (FEMA Has Made Progress Implementing Key
Programs, but Opportunities for Improvement Exist, 2016). However, some of the
officials tend to ignore the FQS when assigning their workforce to different
affected areas. For instance, a study showed that the top management did not
emphasize on FQS qualifications and title when they were assigning roles during
Hurricane Sandy (Federal Emergency Management Agency Additional Planning and
Data Collection Could Help Improve Workforce Management Efforts, 2015).

 It is also apparent that was not the only
case, as the researchers also discovered that the same mistake was repeated
when responding to the storm. According to the research, some of the workers
sent to respond to the disasters lacked enough qualifications and skills which
later affected the entire process. A report showed that other members did not
know their FQS titles. Moreover, it was obvious that some of the employees were
overqualified for the tasks that they were assigned (Federal Emergency
management Agency, n.d.). Such events led to the lack of motivation among the
employees, hence affecting the response process. Hence, it is significant for
the agency to prioritize on educating the management the need of emphasizing on
the FQS system. This will enable FEMA to improve its capability in responding
to disasters.

Moreover,
FEMA should prioritize in enhancing its ability to recover from disaster. The
organization should strengthen its disaster Recovery grant spending. It is
apparent that the organization has had issues on managing the disaster recovery
expenditure (FEMA Has Made Progress Implementing Key Programs, but
Opportunities for Improvement Exist, 2016). The money utilized in the recovery
process is essential to the success of any recovery project. Hence, it shows
that lack of proper management can hinder the entire process. The process can
be delayed for several months and also years, which may not paint a good
picture for the agency.

FEMA
should also focus on their communication system so as to make sure that they
improve their capability to respond to a disaster. Currently, the world is
experiencing a massive growth in the technological sector (FEMA Has Made
Progress Implementing Key Programs, but Opportunities for Improvement Exist,
2016). Therefore, it is vital for FEMA to ensure that they keep up with the
changes so that it can remain relevant.  The agency should also prioritize in the
communication within the organization. At times, it may be difficult for the
organization to attain its mission due to hitches in the communication within
the organization. The top management should work with the juniors so as to make
sure that there is proper flow of information.

Conclusion

Federal
Emergency Management Agency is critical especially in the process of
coordination the process of emergency planning. It also responds and minimizes
of hazards. Although the agency has been active, there are various areas that
it should prioritize in its mission so as to enhance its capability. One of the
areas that it should prioritize is its response abilities. The agency should
also improve its recovery process. 

References

Federal Emergency
Management Agency Additional Planning and Data Collection Could Help

Improve
Workforce Management Efforts. (2015, July). Retrieved June 14, 2016, from http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/671276.pdf

Federal Emergency
Management Agency. (2016). GAO Reports, 1-15.

Federal Emergency
management Agency. (n.d.). Retrieved June 13, 2016, from

http://www.allgov.com/departments/department-of-homeland-security/federal-emergency-management-agency-fema?agencyid=7345

FEMA
Has Made Progress Implementing Key Programs, but Opportunities for Improvement

Exist. (2016). GAO Reports, 1-53.

Joseph
Nimmich. (2015, February 10). Retrieved June 13, 2016, from

https://www.fema.gov/joseph-nimmich

Kahan, J. (2015). Future of FEMA –
Preparedness or Politics?. Journal Of Homeland Security &

Emergency
Management, 12(1),
1. doi:10.1515/jhsem-2014-0048

Performance of Buildings
and Nonstructural Components in the 2014 South Napa Earthquake.

(2015,
August 24).

William Craig Fugate.
(2015, February 10). Retrieved June 13, 2016, from

https://www.fema.gov/william-craig-fugate

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