What have they done for you lately? The APWA Emergency Management Committee Teresa Hon Professional Development Program Manager American Public Works Association Kansas City, Missouri his year’s Emergency Management Committee continues a long tradition of representing the interests and concerns of public works professionals. Did you know that the APWA Homeland Security Task Force (appointed in 2002 by thenPresident-Elect Richard Ridings) later represented APWA as one of ten key response organizations participating in the development of what is now the FEMA National Homeland Security Consortium? Even prior to the 2003 Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-8) naming public works as a first responder, we were on the ground floor of national initiatives. Since that time, there has been at least one APWA member representing public works as a member of the Consortium.
determine the level of involvement in alliances and coalitions. APWA is by far the most active through our participation and representation with the following:
Public works’ role and position in the public safety services community continues to be more widely respected as evidenced by the May 2010 formal recognition of public works as a first responder by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Emergency Services Sector. This last year public works/APWA led the field of first responders by being the first to participate in audits with the DHS Cyber Security Division. APWA was also one of 24 national organizations that worked closely with the White House on the development of the recently released Homeland Security Presidential Policy Directive 8 (HSPPD-8).
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Last summer an informal survey of first responder colleagues and organizations was conducted to
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8 APWA Reporter
January 2012
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DHS Credentialing Committee DHS Emergency Services Sector Coordinating Council EMAC Advisory Group Environmental Protection Association (EPA) Disaster Recovery Work Group EPA Water Security Partners FEMA National Framework Revision Group FEMA National Preparedness Task Force Flood Map Modernization Coalition Hazards Caucus Work Group High Performance Buildings Congressional Caucus Coalition Homeland Security Advisory Committee Infrastructure Security Consortium National Advisory Council National Committee on Levee Safety National Homeland Security Consortium National Incident Management Consortium National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards Committee National Mitigation Alliance NFPA Technical Committee on Professional Qualifications for Incident Command Positions NFPA 1026 SAFECOM Stafford Act Coalition Strategic Foresight Initiative
At various times throughout the last decade, both APWA leadership and members of the Emergency Management Committee have encouraged chapters to form their own Emergency Management Committees or at the very least designate an individual within their chapter who will act as a contact person. We’re pleased that in the last year the number of chapters with a designated emergency management contact or an actual committee has risen from eight to 23. Not only does a chapter contact establish a direct link between the APWA Technical Committee and the chapters, it allows for the rapid, direct dissemination of information between local and national levels of the organization. Additionally, there is the hope and expectation that an active local committee would allow for stronger local voices for interstate and intrastate issues of emergency response and planning. Recently APWA staff has served as a clearinghouse of FEMA news releases and notices, passing along relevant information to chapter contacts. Those chapters covered by disaster declarations will find a steady stream of notices and announcements. The committee encourages chapter contacts to bring issues and requests to the national committee and welcomes any suggestions our chapter members may have. Your Emergency Management Committee recognizes it is imperative that we embrace social media in order to assist our members in keeping their fingers on the pulse of public works.
