Article
Article [pdf]
Letters & CommentsMichael Byrne
Michael Byrne is senior vice president at ICF International in Fairfax, Virginia. He has worked disaster responses from both the local level as 1st deputy director of NYC OEM and federal level as FEMA operations chief for the response to the attack on the WTC and senior director for preparedness response and recovery at the White House Office of Homeland Security.
...And Not a Drop to Drink. Water: an Alternative Test for Emergency Managers
ABSTRACT:
When a disaster is declared, FEMA evaluates the damage and determines what needs must be met.
Between that determination and the actually delivery of supplies — including clean water — to disaster victims, the government requires a number of steps that,
while necessary from a process standpoint, appear to inhibit the delivery of vital resources.
Many of these steps are not necessary if we change the focus from the process to the victim and the responder at the point of service.
Who really wants to argue that twenty steps are necessary to take care of water?
Read full article.
SUGGESTED CITATION:
Byrne, Michael. “...And Not a Drop to Drink. Water: an Alternative Test for Emergency Managers.” Homeland Security Affairs IV, no. 2 (June 2008)http://www.hsaj.org/?article=4.2.2