FEMA Appoints National Advisory Council Members

Next NAC Meeting Scheduled
 

WASHINGTON—Today, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate appointed five new members and reappointed seven current members to FEMA’s National Advisory Council (NAC).

The NAC is an advisory committee established by federal law to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of federal emergency management activities.  Members represent the whole community and include representatives from a wide array of backgrounds and communities involved in or affected by the emergency management profession.  The NAC consists of up to 35 members.

“I commend the work that the members of the National Advisory Council do to advise FEMA on carrying out our mission,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “The NAC plays a pivotal role to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters and man-made disasters. Their recommendations have a direct impact across the agency, survivors, and others we serve.  I welcome these new members to the team, trust their counsel, and appreciate their dedication and commitment to ensuring effective emergency management.”

The NAC provides recommendations to the FEMA Administrator on a variety of issues within emergency management.  For example, the NAC recently made recommendations regarding strategies for the more effective integration and accommodation of the needs of individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs and providing funding for and supporting hazard mitigation for flood-prone housing.

FEMA received many applications for the open positions. All applicants were carefully considered through an intensive review process, which included a panel of senior government officials.  Most appointments are for three-year terms.

The five new NAC members include:

Administrator Selection

Donna Boston, Director, Emergency Management Division, Orange County Sheriff’s Department (Silverado, CA)

Administrator Selection (Emerging Leader)

Gabriele Almon, Independent Consultant (Monrovia, CA)

Emergency Management

Jeff Stern, State Coordinator, Virginia Division of Emergency Management (Richmond, VA)

Non-Elected Local Government Official

Eugene Henry, Hazard Mitigation Manager, Hillsborough County, Florida (Tampa, FL)

Standards Setting and Accrediting

Peter Ginaitt, Senior Environmental Affairs, Safety Compliance Officer and Emergency Manager, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (Providence, RI)

The seven reappointed members include:

Administrator Selections

Chris Howell, Director of Tribal Relations, BNSF Railway (Fort Worth, TX)

Linda Langston, Director of Strategic Relations, National Association of Counties, National Association of Counties (Washington, DC)

Access and Functional Needs

June Kailes, Associate Director, Harris Family Center for Disability and Health Policy, Western University of Health Sciences (Playa del Rey, CA)

Emergency Medical Providers

Emily Kidd, Project Director, Texas Disaster Medical System (San Antonio, TX)

Ex Officio

Robert Salesses, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Integration and DSCA, U.S. Department of Defense (Washington, DC)

Non-Elected State Government Official

W. Nim Kidd, Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management and Assistant Director, Texas Homeland Security Department of Public Safety (Austin, TX)

Public Health

Suzet McKinney, Executive Director, Illinois Medical District Commission (Chicago, IL)

Standards Setting and Accrediting

Teresa Scott, Public Works Director, City of Gainesville Public Works Department (Gainesville, FL)

FEMA will also be having the next NAC public meeting in the Washington, D.C. area from September 13 to 15.

During the meeting, the NAC will meet with the FEMA Administrator and Deputy Administrator, receive program briefings from agency leadership, and review the progress and potential recommendations of its three subcommittees: Preparedness and Protection, Response and Recovery, and Federal Insurance and Mitigation. 

The NAC will also discuss other topics to include:

• GIS Technology in Disaster Response and Recovery
• Tribal Engagement
• Disaster Deductible
• Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration Activities
• National Preparedness Directorate Activities
• Office of Response and Recovery Activities

Additional information on the NAC, meeting agenda, and a full list of current NAC members, is available at www.fema.gov/national-advisory-council.

For those planning to attend in-person, for additional information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities, or to request special assistance at the meeting, please contact the Office of the NAC by email at FEMA-NAC@fema.dhs.gov. 
 

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards.

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