KIMT News 3 – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is making changes that could impact disaster preparedness funds.

The agency says they will only approve these kinds of funds to states who have addressed the issue of climate change in their mitigation’s. That means state leaders like Gov. Terry Branstad, and Gov. Mark Dayton will have to recognize climate change as one of the driving factors in natural disasters, and in doing this, preparedness funds will then be available for their county emergency teams.

Steve O’Neil, the Emergency Management Coordinator for Cerro Gordo County, tells us while this won’t impact relief funds available after disaster strikes, it will make a drastic impact on how counties will prepare themselves for when disasters hit.

“The things that go into outdoor warning sirens and the different programs that we have that we can take into schools for preparedness all of that is pre-planning preparedness planning,” he explains. Without proper funds, projects and programs like this will be tougher to produce, and harder to come by.

Iowa is one of the states in the U.S. who do not have climate change language in their disaster mitigation plans. These plans are reevaluated every five years and O’Neil tells us that one, it’s time for the state to review the plan, Gov. Branstad will have to make the decision on whether or not to include climate change language.

These changes in funding will start next year.

IN LESS THAN two months, the Atlantic hurricane season will begin. No one can accurately predict what it will offer; those living within its path can only expect the worst and hope for the best. The entire Caribbean chain which is exposed needs to be better prepared for any eventuality. The issue of preparation also applies to the next big disaster which could be awaiting us in Barbados or our neighbours, whether floods, chemical or gas leaks, oil spills, earthquakes or even a tsunami. Are we ready and prepared for any such eventuality?

The reality is that we must stop looking to the United States, Canada, Britain and other rich nations to be our salvation in times of disaster. So while the US Southern Command, which has planned major cuts, has the means to respond to any major disaster in this region, the reality is that we must show a greater willingness to do more for ourselves, long before the times of peril. We need to appreciate that the Caribbean simply does not rank too high on Washington’s agenda.

That means member nations must give the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) greater support, particularly financial. It is to be regretted that some countries have not been paying their dues.

At the local level, the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) and its equivalents across the region must also be well supported.

Just as important, we need volunteers in an active equivalent of the Neighbourhood Watch concept promoted by police, to be equipped to respond to the next big disaster.

The DEM and the Barbados Defence Force must implement the strategic goal of training community emergency response teams not only for every neighbourhood but all major employment centres.

We need to have certain safety fundamentals in place long before we think of asking or expecting external assistance. Perhaps before the start of the hurricane season an audit ought to be done to see how many houses are built or retrofitted to hurricane proof standards and how many householders know basic first-aid, rescue and/or firefighting techniques.

We also need to test the volunteers to determine what skills are most critical and what factors can stymie their effectiveness following a natural or man-made disaster and how best to apply these skills primarily within the community. It is a test to benefit every individual and corporate citizen.

Training will take money, regardless of who undertakes it. When the entire community is involved there is a great level of appreciation and it may be easier to find the funding even in difficult economic times. We need to become activists in disaster mitigation at the community level and promote the concept of self-help. We must not be seen as simply reaching out for alms.

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