Norton's Call for More Time for Public to Respond to Controversial Disaster Plan (10/11/07)
Response to Norton's Call for More Time for
Public to Respond to Controversial Disaster Plan
October 11, 2007
Washington, DC-After Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) wrote to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator R. David Paulison, requesting an extension of the period for public comment on requirements in the National Response Framework (NRF), a plan to make the country safe in the event of natural or terrorist disasters, FEMA has informed Norton that comments will now be taken until October 22. October 11 was FEMA's original cut-off for public comments. Norton, chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, sent a letter to Paulison last Thursday after the agency declined to give assurances that he would honor his commitment he had made at her September 11th hearing to extend the comment period.
The Congresswoman initially sought a 30-day extension, but after speaking with groups representing emergency managers who were among those most critical of the NRF, she agreed to the shorter extension when they felt it would be sufficient. Norton accepted the extension because FEMA was considerably overdue in submitting the plan, which has now become urgent to complete. Moreover, Paulison told Norton that he was confident that the agency will be able to meet her objectives during the new time frame. FEMA already has received an unusually large number of public comments on the plan.
The NRF came under blistering criticism from experts, state and local emergency managers, and academic witnesses at a hearing Norton held before her Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management on September 11th. Of special concern was criticism that the framework ignores the important role of on-the-ground first responders who must implement the plan in the event of disasters.
As a result of issues and problems raised at the hearing, Norton also asked the General Accountability Office to review and analyze the NRF, particularly whether the document follows the requirements outlined in the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006. In response to the failures of Hurricane Katrina, Congress mandated that FEMA revamp its comprehensive framework for federal response in a major disaster.