Planning underway
Each week since the COVID-19 outbreak, I participate in the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) call with businesses and interested parties from around the country. CISA is an office within the Department of Homeland Security. With hurricane season starting in 48 days, I asked those presenting on last week’s call if they are working with a team to manage a worst case scenario of a Category 5 hurricane hitting while COVID is raging. The CISA director was steadfast that we as a nation will be prepared and I also received assurances from a FEMA executive.
In fact, FEMA is thinking about setting up a second National Response Coordination Center, one that would handle such a scenario or other disasters unrelated to the current pandemic. So they are looking for extra people, including bringing back some FEMA retirees. One former FEMA official told Politico that “Covid is the equivalent of Hurricane Katrina hitting 50 states.” The open article is a chilling story about the cascading effect this virus is having currently on such things as treating the homeless, food bank shortages and the like, and what could happen if we add a hurricane to the mix.
Florida’s two U.S. Senators, Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, expressed similar concern recently in a joint letter to FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor. “We urge FEMA to issue guidance to state and local governments, tribes and territories regarding hurricane preparedness and response that addresses Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and procedures in the wake of the coronavirus. In addition, we ask that you take into account how to properly evacuate and shelter those who either have, or are suspected to have, the coronavirus in the event of a storm. Consistent and sound guidance will be crucial to saving lives during a natural disaster,” they wrote.
Meanwhile, hurricane forecasts all indicate an above average season this summer. Forecaster Weatherbell Analytics, looking at current data, said there are “similarities to some notable hyperactive seasons” for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.
One of my roles is as policy advisor to the Disaster Recovery Coalition of American (www.thedrca.org) and this organization will be front and center in preparing for this year’s storm season taking into account the drain on resources from COVID-19. We welcome your input and participation, so let us know your thoughts on making sure “we got this!”
LMA Newsletter of 4-13-20
