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| 2009 Congressional Calendar |
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Click Here to download the FAMA/FEMSA GAC 2009 Congressional Calendar for the 111th Congress 1st Session, including retreats and recesses.
Source: DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, INC.
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Leading Fire Service Groups Urge President-Elect Obama to Leave FEMA in Department of Homeland Security
Removing FEMA from DHS Would Endanger America's Emergency Response Capabilities
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Fairfax, Va., January 7, 2009... Three prominent fire and emergency service organizations are urging President-Elect Barack Obama to leave the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) in the Department of Homeland Security, DHS. To move FEMA out of DHS could endanger America's emergency response capabilities, said the leaders of the International Association of Fire Chiefs ( IAFC), International Association of Fire Fighters ( IAFF) and the Congressional Fire Service Institute ( CFSI) in a letter December 22 to President-Elect Obama. Over the past month, press reports have cited opinions that FEMA should be removed from DHS, an idea that alarmed these fire service leaders. "America's fire service believes that emergency preparedness and response to all hazards is integral to our nation's homeland security, and we urge you to keep FEMA in its current role as an autonomous component within DHS," said IAFC President Larry J. Grorud, IAFF General President Harold A. Schaitberger and CFSI President Dr. William Jenaway. They explained why moving FEMA out of DHS could endanger America's emergency response capabilities. "By separating FEMA from DHS, the new Administration would create a bureaucratic barrier between FEMA and the other DHS preparedness and response components, such as the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, the Office of Health Affairs, the Office of Infrastructure Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard. In addition, if FEMA were removed from DHS, it would separate the agency's work with local first responders from the department's communications interoperability programs at the Offices of Emergency Communications and Interoperability and Compatibility. We also are concerned that the months of Congressional deliberation required to enact this change would create bureaucratic instability within DHS and FEMA, which would prevent FEMA's ability to perform its core preparedness and response mission," the three leaders stated. They cited the improvements in FEMA since Hurricane Katrina. The national fire and emergency service organizations worked with Congress to restructure and strengthen FEMA and improve its emergency response capabilities. The result was the Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act (P.L. 109-295). In addition to new requirements for FEMA, "this law protected FEMA's budget from arbitrary reprogramming and the agency from arbitrary reorganization by DHS. To strengthen FEMA, the law rolled most of DHS' preparedness activities into FEMA, including management of all of the major grant programs. ...Both these legislative changes and the experienced leadership of Chief R. David Paulison and his staff have created a strong, autonomous FEMA within DHS," said the leaders of IAFC, IAFF and CFSI. They also noted the assessment of FEMA's response to the Midwest floods by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. "FEMA's success demonstrated a continuing integration within DHS to implement the mandates of the Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act (P.L. 109-295)," he said. "Simply put, this FEMA is better prepared, as a critical component of the Department of Homeland Security, to prepare for and respond to acts of terror, natural disasters, and other man-made emergencies." The IAFC, IAFF and CFSI leaders' letter concluded: "The federal response to Hurricane Katrina demonstrated the problems that can occur when a federal agency is trapped in a period of continued transition. In 2006, Congress wisely acted to strengthen FEMA's autonomy; adequately fund its programs; and ensure experienced leadership for the agency. As a result of this legislation and Congressional appropriations, the new FEMA is better managed, staffed, and prepared to respond proactively to all hazards. Considering FEMA's recent accomplishments, we urge you to keep the agency within DHS, and make whatever managerial decisions are necessary to ensure that FEMA is adequately staffed and funded to meet its statutory preparedness and response mission. If FEMA were removed from DHS, we have serious concerns that the agency's core missions would be critically compromised, which would have a deleterious effect on the safety of the American public." For a copy of the letter to President-Elect Obama, go to the www.iafc.org: Government Relations > Issues: Homeland Security.
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FEMA Launches Consolidated Website for Disaster Applicants
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FEMA last week announced the launch of the first phase of DisasterAssistance.gov, a new, easy-to-use Web site that consolidates information about forms of disaster assistance in one place. Individuals in need of assistance following a presidentially declared disaster will now be able to go to www.DisasterAssistance.gov if they wish to register online for assistance with FEMA and other federal agencies.
DisasterAssistance.gov will improve and simplify access to this information by creating a central, online location for all forms of federal disaster aid. Sixteen federal agencies have collaborated with FEMA to develop the Web site, offering more than 50 forms of assistance. At launch, users can:
· apply for FEMA assistance and Small Business Administration loans through a single online application;
· check the status of their online application;
· choose to have their Social Security benefits redirected to a new address; and
· have access to their federal student loan account information.
DisasterAssistance.gov also will provide applicants links to other forms of assistance and additional aid information. In future releases, DisasterAssistance.gov will include online applications for increasingly more forms of aid, speeding the application process for victims of presidentially declared disasters.
More information about this is available at http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=47195.
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A Duty to Act
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When does an off duty firefighter have a duty to act? Does an off duty firefighter even have a duty to act? What if things go from bad to worse and the firefighter is injured or killed? These are important questions for each individual firefighter to answer and answer from the basis of their own local and state legal authorities.
Read More »
Source: DHS Blog
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| USFA Releases Provisional 2008 Firefighter Fatality Statistics |
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EMMITSBURG, MD. - The United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced today there were 114 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States as a result of incidents that occurred in 2008. During this period, there were firefighters lost from 34 states and one from the Virgin Islands. North Carolina experienced the highest number of fatalities (11), while Oregon (9), Pennsylvania (9), California ( 8), New York (7), Illinois (6), Missouri (6), and Ohio (6) each suffered more than 5 on-duty losses.
"The tragic losses of on-duty firefighters in 2008 are a reminder of the necessary commitment and efforts by firefighters in all fire departments across the United States to focus on and improve our operational safety," United States Fire Administrator Greg Cade said. "We understand all too well that many of these losses are preventable. The USFA remains dedicated to continuing our efforts to ensure 2009 is a year where we reduce these losses so that firefighters can return home safely to their families and continue serving their communities."
As the USFA continues to collect and evaluate information regarding the 2008 on-duty firefighter deaths, here are some of the early known facts:
- Preliminary estimates indicate that heart attacks and strokes were responsible for the deaths of 50 firefighters (43.8%) in 2008. This shows a decrease from 54 of the 118 (45.7%) firefighters in 2007.
- In 2008, 26 on-duty firefighters died in association with wildland fires.
- This loss is more than double the 11 wildland firefighter fatalities in 2007.
- The 2008 toll is also above the annual average of 21 wildland fire-associated fatalities over the past 10 years, 1999-2008.
- For 2008, 64.9% of all firefighter fatalities occurred while performing emergency duties.
- Twenty-nine firefighters died in 2008 as the result of vehicle crashes.
- Fourteen of these deaths involved aircraft crashes.
- Fifteen firefighters died in motor vehicle crashes.
- Six firefighters were killed in crashes involving their personal vehicles and three died in water tender (tanker) crashes. These two vehicle types have historically been most often involved in crashes that take the lives of firefighters.
- Speed and a lack of seat belt use historically contribute to these incidents.
These fatality statistics for 2008 are provisional and subject to change as the USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify the names of firefighters reported to have died on-duty during 2008. The final number of firefighter fatalities will be reported in USFA's annual firefighter fatality report and is expected to be available by early July.
For additional information on firefighter fatalities, including the annual fatality reports from 1986 through 2007 and the Firefighter Fatality Retrospective Study 1990-2000, please visit the USFA Web site.
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Resolve to Prepare for Emergencies and Disasters, Chertoff Says
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Outgoing DHS secretary Michael Chertoff is urging Americans to become better prepared for disaster - because we're taking assistance for granted.
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Source: Disaster Resource Guide
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| Chlorine Gas Study Helps Responders Prepare for Disaster |
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A new study analyzing a 2005 train wreck could help first responders in large cities handle the release of chlorine gas.
Read More >>
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| The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities:
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Name: Gary Stephens
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 57
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 28
Date of Incident: 01/02/2009
Time of Incident: 0200hrs
Date of Death: 01/02/2009
Fire Department: Elizabeth Fire Department
Address: 411 Irvington Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ 07208-2068
Fire Department Director: Onofrio Vitullo
Incident Description: While at the scene of a house fire, Firefighter Stephens was accidentally run over by a fire truck as it backed up to lay hose to a hydrant. He was rushed to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Funeral Arrangements: Pending
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Stephens at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: Richard Lee Montgomery
Rank: Firefighter
Age: 54
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: 15
Date of Incident: 12/31/2008
Time of Incident: 1759hrs
Date of Death: 12/31/2008
Fire Department: Hobo - Big V Volunteer Fire Department
Address: 633 Hwy 4 East, Booneville, MS 38829 (USNG: 16S CD 5568 3914)
Fire Department Chief: Randel Livingston
Incident Description: Firefighter Montgomery was at the scene of a working residential structure fire setting up a fan on the front porch for ventilation. After turning and stepping down off of the porch, Montgomery collapsed from an apparent heart attack. Firefighter Montgomery was rushed to Baptist Memorial Hospital - Booneville (16SCD56523615), but all efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Incident Location: Residential structure along County Road 4040 (USNG: 16S CD 6633 2051)
Funeral Arrangements: A fireman's funeral was held for Firefighter Montgomery, plus services on 01/03/2009 at McMillan Funeral Home in Booneville. Burial with military and fireman honors followed at Oaklawn Memorial Park in West Booneville.
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: In honor of Firefighter Richard Lee Montgomery, c/o Hobo - Big V Volunteer Fire Department, 633 Hwy 4 East, Booneville, MS 38829.
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Richard Lee Montgomery at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: John C. Myers
Rank: Firefighter/Mechanic
Age: 61
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: 6
Date of Incident: 01/03/2009
Time of Incident: 1533hrs
Date of Death: 01/03/2009
Fire Department: Union Chapel Volunteer Fire Department
Address: HC Box 3030, Pittsburg, OK 74560 (USNG: 15STU38864478)
Fire Department Chief: Phillip Danley
Incident Description: Firefighter John C. Myers passed away from injuries received in a motor vehicle accident while working at the scene of an outdoor grass fire.
Myers was operating a fire department vehicle and traveling south on County Road Wesley, near the Pittsburg County line (OK), when his son, Firefighter Juston Myers, also working the fire and operating a privately owned vehicle heading north on CR Wesley, crossed left of center on the narrow gravel road in heavy smoke obstructed conditions and collided head on with the fire department vehicle his father was driving.
Personnel from several fire departments in the area worked for more than an hour and a half to free Firefighter John C. Myers from the wreckage.
Firefighter Juston Myers and a passenger in the privately owned vehicle were both injured in the accident. Juston was treated at the scene and his passenger, Clayton Rice, was taken to a nearby hospital with head, leg and arm injuries.
Incident Location: On County Road Wesley, USNG: 15S TU 3497 3518 (6.67km due east of US Hwy 69), Atoka County, OK.
Seatbelts: Equipped and not in use both vehicles.
Funeral Arrangements: 01/07/2009 @ 1100hrs, Brown's Funeral Home (http://www.brownsfuneralserviceatokaok.com/), 800 W 13th Street, Atoka, OK 74525 (USNG: 14S QD 6266 0737), Tele: (580) 889-9339.
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: In honor of Firefighter John C. Myers, c/o Union Chapel Volunteer Fire Department, HC Box 3030, Pittsburg, OK 74560
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter John C. Myers at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
Name: Kevin M. Kelley
Rank: Lieutenant
Age: 52
Gender: Male
Status: Career
Years of Service: 30
Date of Incident: 01/09/2009
Time of Incident: 1430hrs
Date of Death: 01/09/2009
Fire Department: Boston Fire Department
Address: 115 Southampton Street, Boston, MA 02118 (USNG: 19TCG29508870)
Fire Department Chief: Kevin P. MacCurtain
Fire Department Website: http://www.cityofboston.gov/fire/
Incident Description: Several firefighters on board Boston Fire Department's Ladder 26, a 1995 E-ONE 110' RMA, were seriously injured when for a cause still to be determined the truck was unable to stop while coming down Parker Hill Ave, shortly after clearing a medical assistance call.
Lieutenant Kevin Kelly passed away at the scene from his injuries.
The apparatus, at the bottom of the steep hill, reportedly left no skid marks as it crossed Huntington Ave, striking two parked vehicles, crashing through a brick wall, and then striking a building; coming to a final resting position inside of the entrance way area of the multi-story residential structure.
There were no pedestrians or residents of the building reported to have been injured in the incident and investigation continues into the cause.
Seat belts: Unknown
Incident Location: 835 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA (Grid: 19T CG 26221 88943)
Funeral Arrangements: Pending. Updates will be posted at http://www.bostonfirelocal718.org
Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending. Updates will be posted at http://www.bostonfirelocal718.org
Tribute is being paid to Lieutenant Kevin M. Kelley at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
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