by Angela Craig, guest columnist
At last week's meeting, Anthony Morea joined us to wrap up our theme of Emergency Preparedness. Tony is a Regional Facilities Management Specialist with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA, as it’s more commonly known, is well known throughout the United States as the federal Department of Emergency Management. On April 1, 1979, then President Jimmy Carter created FEMA by Executive Order. It’s mission was and is to support the citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards. Several existing federal programs and agencies were absorbed into this new agency. However, the roots for federal disaster assistance go back long before 1979.
The Congressional Act of 1803 is generally considered the first piece of disaster legislation and provided assistance to a New Hampshire town following an extensive fire. In the century that followed, ad hoc legislation was passed more than 100 times in response to hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters. There is more about the history of FEMA at the FEMA website- www.FEMA.gov. And, on March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the Department of Homeland Security.
Tony shared that the eruption of Mt. St. Helens on May 18, 1980 was the first emergency event that FEMA officially handled, one year after FEMA was created. 34 years later, FEMA came to our aid yet again on March 22, 2014 following the Oso, WA mudslide disaster. But FEMA is perhaps best known for their work on Hurricane Katrina, where they came under fire -- largely unfairly, said Tony -- for their lack of timely assistance. Tony explained that FEMA can only step in when the state becomes overburdened and the governor of that state requests FEMA's intervention specifically. Even then, they must work within the limits of city, county, state and even tribal mandates and agencies. From the Katrina debacle, FEMA learned that they can't support everything. They came up with and follow two main rules in any emergency, based on their Damage Assessment Teams' findings: 1. Provide Public Assistance (infrastructure) and 2. Provide Individual Assistance (homes and loss of property).
Tony addressed personal and family safety by stating that "Safety starts with you. Be prepared, because that helps you and those who depend on you." He said that every family needs a Family Communications Plan. These are provided on FEMA's website, Ready.gov (or FEMA.gov), as are Preparedness Plans for those with infants and young children, the elderly, those with disabilities, military families, businesses, and those with pets. There are other useful items there as well, such as detailed information about creating a Basic Disaster Supplies Kit and ways to get involved in national preparedness drills. He gave information on how we might address preparedness as a club, as well.
Tony is originally from Michigan. After graduating high school he studied Film and Video Production, Music and Criminal Justice at Ferris State University. In 1989 he joined the United States Army and served for twelve years. He, his wife Karen and their three children moved to Lake Stevens in 2005 when he began his career with FEMA. The children are now grown, their sons are on active duty--one with the Army, the other with the Navy. Their daughter is finishing up her teaching degree. Tony is active in American Legion Post 181 here in Lake Stevens. He currently is the Post Commander. Karen is active with the Ladies Auxiliary of the Post.
