The Frankenstorm tearing up the East Coast is further proof we need FEMA as it was created to function. Bracing for Hurricane Sandy, Obama declared a state of emergency in DC and seven states, allowing them to receive FEMA's federal emergency disaster assistance.
But if Romney is elected, such assistance could end. He told Huffington Post last year he would shut down FEMA, dumping disaster response on the already financially strapped states or the private sector.
Meanwhile, says ThinkProgress, House Republicans have worked to severely weaken National Oceanic Atmospheric Association's ability to conduct research on disaster preparedness and response. They're trying to cut $450 million more than what Obama's budget requested -- which would also cripple NOAA's National Weather Service.
Despite the fact that Congress reached a bipartisan agreement on funding disaster relief, the Ryan-led Budget Committee voided it. This must not continue. Tell the GOP: Don’t Mess With FEMA!
We, the undersigned, object to Republican Party members’ goals and attempts to shut down FEMA.
This goal, which would place an unbearable burden on already struggling state and local governments, is not only irresponsible but ironic considering that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was initially created to coordinate response to any US disaster that overwhelms the resources of local and state authorities.
But, since the Bush Administration, there have been repeated attempts to undermine this crucial assistance. Former President Carter, who first organized FEMA, discussed in 2008, after the Katrina tragedy, how his goal to bring agencies together to form an organized, stronger and independent response to disaster had been thwarted by the Bush administration, which worked to “DISorganize” FEMA, making it part of Homeland Security and taking away it’s ability to act independently.
Politicians today should not only not be working to shut down FEMA, but they should be working to return it to the organization Carter created it to be. We request that you work for these goals and stop messing with FEMA’s original purpose - to help states cope with overwhelming disasters.
Thank you for your time.
