The Federal Emergency The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Failed Management Agency’s Failed Leadership: An Assessment of Leadership: An Assessment of

Reorganization and Emergency Reorganization and Emergency Management Student PerceptionsManagement Student Perceptions

Jack R. BreeseJack R. BreeseB.S. Emergency ManagementB.S. Emergency Management

A.A.S. Fire Protection TechnologyA.A.S. Fire Protection TechnologyThe University of AkronThe University of Akron

Akron, OhioAkron, Ohio

Project DescriptionProject Description

This project experimentally examined the This project experimentally examined the perceptions of undergraduate students at The perceptions of undergraduate students at The University of Akron pursuing a Bachelor of University of Akron pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Emergency Management. Science degree in Emergency Management.

Seventy-nine students voluntarily completed a Seventy-nine students voluntarily completed a survey measuring their degree of agreement or survey measuring their degree of agreement or disagreement to a given statement. disagreement to a given statement.

The data were analyzed using descriptive The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. statistics.

Research FindingsResearch FindingsEarly presidential involvement is necessary for a timely and well-Early presidential involvement is necessary for a timely and well-coordinated federal response. coordinated federal response.

Additionally, the president must have the advice and counsel of emergency Additionally, the president must have the advice and counsel of emergency management professionals, elevated to a cabinet-level position, in order to management professionals, elevated to a cabinet-level position, in order to make appropriate and timely decisions. make appropriate and timely decisions.

Former FEMA Director James Lee Witt prophesized that “The emphasis on Former FEMA Director James Lee Witt prophesized that “The emphasis on terrorism preparedness in the aftermath of September 11th, [and] the terrorism preparedness in the aftermath of September 11th, [and] the transfer of FEMA to the Department of Homeland Security may result in transfer of FEMA to the Department of Homeland Security may result in decreased emphasis on mitigation and natural hazards” (Hollis, 2005). decreased emphasis on mitigation and natural hazards” (Hollis, 2005).

President Bill Clinton explained to Larry King on CNN that it should be President Bill Clinton explained to Larry King on CNN that it should be “Required that any future head of the Federal Emergency Management “Required that any future head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency have prior experience in emergency management. When a disaster Agency have prior experience in emergency management. When a disaster strikes, that person [the FEMA director] becomes the most important person strikes, that person [the FEMA director] becomes the most important person in the federal government” (Cable News Network, 2005). in the federal government” (Cable News Network, 2005).

Research Findings (continued)Research Findings (continued)

Unfortunately, FEMA has become a patronage shop Unfortunately, FEMA has become a patronage shop filled with President Bush’s friends, not professional filled with President Bush’s friends, not professional emergency managers. emergency managers.

The key to strengthening the Federal Emergency The key to strengthening the Federal Emergency Management Agency is to develop a competent and Management Agency is to develop a competent and effective workforce by reducing the number of political effective workforce by reducing the number of political appointees within the agency. appointees within the agency.

On September 12, 2005, Michael Brown resigned as the On September 12, 2005, Michael Brown resigned as the Federal Emergency Management Agency director – only Federal Emergency Management Agency director – only ten days after President Bush told him “Brownie, you’re ten days after President Bush told him “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job” (Can I Quit, 2005). doing a heck of a job” (Can I Quit, 2005).

Research Findings (continued)Research Findings (continued)

When it comes to governmental bureaucracies, bigger is not always When it comes to governmental bureaucracies, bigger is not always better.better.

Once absorbed into the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA Once absorbed into the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA lost its cabinet level status and budget independence. lost its cabinet level status and budget independence.

Removing FEMA from the shadow of the Department of Homeland Removing FEMA from the shadow of the Department of Homeland Security and re-establishing it as an independent agency headed by Security and re-establishing it as an independent agency headed by a cabinet-level position responsible directly to the president would a cabinet-level position responsible directly to the president would position it better and give it the resources to accomplish its goals position it better and give it the resources to accomplish its goals and respond to disasters – natural or man-made. and respond to disasters – natural or man-made.

According to James Lee Witt, the agency “must never lose focus on According to James Lee Witt, the agency “must never lose focus on serving the customer – the state and local responders and the serving the customer – the state and local responders and the victims of disaster” (Democratic Staff of the Committee on victims of disaster” (Democratic Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security, 2006). Homeland Security, 2006).

Research Findings (continued)Research Findings (continued)

Marvin Olasky (2006) coined the phrase that “unanticipated Marvin Olasky (2006) coined the phrase that “unanticipated problems are inevitable, but politics and pride can turn them into problems are inevitable, but politics and pride can turn them into disasters.” disasters.”

Regardless of the location in the federal government, the FEMA Regardless of the location in the federal government, the FEMA director must have a direct reporting relationship to the President director must have a direct reporting relationship to the President during periods of Presidential disaster and emergency declarations. during periods of Presidential disaster and emergency declarations.

Congress should require that criteria be developed for the FEMA Congress should require that criteria be developed for the FEMA director position to ensure competent leadership and eliminate director position to ensure competent leadership and eliminate political cronyism due to the misuse of political appointments. political cronyism due to the misuse of political appointments.

Reorganizing FEMA requires doing some new things, many old Reorganizing FEMA requires doing some new things, many old things much better, and some old things differently; all in an things much better, and some old things differently; all in an environment that can punish any mistakes severely. environment that can punish any mistakes severely.

EM Student PerceptionsEM Student Perceptions

The most prevalent finding was the Director of The most prevalent finding was the Director of FEMA should be experienced in emergency FEMA should be experienced in emergency management, prior to being appointed (95%). management, prior to being appointed (95%).

The findings strongly suggest that FEMA should The findings strongly suggest that FEMA should be removed from the Department of Homeland be removed from the Department of Homeland Security and re-established as an independent Security and re-established as an independent federal agency (64%).federal agency (64%).

In Conclusion…In Conclusion…

Reductions should be made to the number of political Reductions should be made to the number of political appointments within federal emergency management appointments within federal emergency management functions and authority positions should be filled with functions and authority positions should be filled with individuals who have requisite experience. individuals who have requisite experience.

Government officials plan and train, budget and design, Government officials plan and train, budget and design, coordinate and test, but they can never cover all coordinate and test, but they can never cover all uncertainties. uncertainties.

According to Donald Kettl (2007), “Increasingly complex According to Donald Kettl (2007), “Increasingly complex problems and growing organizational complexity require problems and growing organizational complexity require even stronger individual leadership.” even stronger individual leadership.”

Note: The completed project, in its entirety, is available for Note: The completed project, in its entirety, is available for viewing upon request.viewing upon request.

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Question(s) or Comment(s)?Question(s) or Comment(s)?