June 20, 2008
Catastrophe Experts Praise Work of First Responders and Volunteers
Say floods send an urgent message to Capitol Hill
The sweeping floods throughout the Midwest are a stark reminder of how vulnerable American families are to the threat of catastrophe and of the urgent need for a better system to prepare and protect the nation from the devastation caused by massive floods, hurricanes and earthquakes, according to the nation’s largest coalition of emergency preparedness and catastrophe response experts.
'The massive flooding throughout much of America’s heartland has brought out the very best of our spirit of volunteerism and our commitment to helping one another when catastrophe strikes,' said Admiral James M. Loy (USCG ret.), co-chair of ProtectingAmerica.org.
'Residents have been helping one another and their communities by filling millions of sandbags, manning aid stations and helping in every way humanly possible. Private citizens, emergency workers and first responders have given tirelessly and selflessly to ensure the safety of their neighbors,' Loy said.
'The dedication of first responder groups, rescue personnel and community volunteers is a reflection of American values at their very finest. From local first aid squads all the way to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, our catastrophe response teams have done a remarkable job in the face of the worst flooding in recent memory,' he said.
'These floods, which have already engulfed more than 5 million acres and forced tens of thousands of American families from their homes are a frightening reminder that there is no place and no one in this vast nation who is immune from the wrath of Mother Nature,' he said.
Admiral Loy, who previously served as commandant of the US Coast Guard and as deputy secretary of the US Department of Homeland, co-chairs ProtectingAmerica.org along with James Lee Witt, the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). ProtectingAmerica.org was formed in 2005 and is a non-profit organization consisting of emergency management officials, first responders, disaster relief experts, insurers and others. Its members include the American Red Cross, more than 300 other organizations and businesses and more than 15,000 individuals from across the nation.
'This disaster comes on the eve of the expiration of the National Flood Insurance Program and should send an urgent message to Capitol Hill that the program needs to be renewed as quickly as possible and that the nation needs a comprehensive program to deal with both the physical and the financial aspects of catastrophe preparation and protection,' Loy added.
