While the document below, published this afternoon, is a response specifically to the
New York Times, it is appropriate to post it in response to my comments of yesterday (scroll down) on this blog.
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| click to enlarge |
One can read FEMA's response and say, "Gee, sounds like they are trying to do the right thing." And, given the extreme nature of 2017's hurricanes, ordinarily I would give them a pass. But,
we have heard these same "we're trying to do better"words so many times before!
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| Hurricane Marina damage. FEMA |
The root problem is that FEMA and the National Weather Service investigate themselves, and that is only when they are inclined to do so. There is absolutely no assurance another
poorly warned tornado like the one in Eureka, Kansas, two weeks ago or the poorly warned and
catastrophic Joplin Tornado of 2011 will not recur with the unnecessary loss of scores of lives.
Since so many readers of this blog are meteorologists, emergency managers and others engaged in disaster forecasting and response, please get on board with
my proposal to create a National Disaster Review Board. You can read part one of the proposal
here. Part two is
here. A disaster board, modeled on the highly successful National Transportation Safety Board, would let us objectively know how well FEMA did and whether the organization is making progress.
If you believe my proposal is appropriate, please let that be known to your elected representatives. I have.
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