Release Number: HQ-10-075

WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deputy Administrator of the National Preparedness Directorate Tim Manning today addressed the Center for National Policy on ways to strengthen the nation's resiliency. Manning discussed some of FEMA's efforts to further engage the private sector and the general public in emergency management before taking questions from the audience.

"FEMA is only one part of the nation's emergency management team - strengthening our resiliency means engaging all members of the team," said Manning. "We can only be as prepared and resilient as the public, and so FEMA works regularly with state and local officials and the private sector to encourage everyone to take steps to ensure their family is prepared in the event of a disaster."

Manning also addressed FEMA's efforts to incorporate the public into preparedness and response for the community at large. Emergency management needs to be inclusive, and FEMA and its partners have a number of initiatives to ensure disaster survivors are participants in the response, rather than merely victims.

For example, FEMA has teamed with members of the private sector to get information to people affected by recent flooding in the Northeast. This included coordinating with the New England Sports Network (NESN) to broadcast messages during Boston Bruins games and with the Boston Red Sox to display information at Fenway Park. FEMA has also worked with Clear Channel and Lamar Outdoor Advertising to put digital billboards in high-traffic areas in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, in addition to numerous other outreach efforts in conjunction with the private sector and state and local governments.

The Center for National Policy is a non-partisan non-profit organization based in Washington that brings together experts and policy makers for discussions on the country's national and economic security.