Vangie Williams thinks governments should take proactive, not reactive approach to natural disasters
Environmental protection is economic protection. Unfortunately, in our country we don’t tend to invest in actually preparing communities for emergencies as well as we should.
Despite the fact that every dollar spent in prevention/preparedness saves us $6 in disaster relief funding, the United States continuously places the emphasis of disaster recovery on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and national insurance schemes, instead of prevention.
As a strategic planner, it is clear to me that we have to start looking at the entire picture when it comes to emergency planning. This means using programs like Citizen Corps to make sure communities know where to go, how to mobilize after a storm, and even what relief looks like and how to seek it.
It behooves us to remember that there are four stages to emergency management:
- Mitigation: Activities to prevent, or reduce the chance of an emergency. Mitigation takes place before and after emergencies. Example: buying flood and fire insurance.
- Preparedness: Plans made to save lives and help in rescue operations. Activities take place before emergencies. Example: stocking up on food, water and medical supplies.
- Response: Putting preparedness plans into action to save lives and prevent additional property damage. Response takes place during an emergency. Example: seeking shelter during a major storm or evacuation efforts.
- Recovery: Actions taken to restore normalcy and safety after an emergency. Recovery takes place after an emergency. Example: financial assistance to relocate or rebuild.
Currently, residents who don’t have insurance in federally declared disaster areas can apply for FEMA’s Disaster Assistance or a low interest loan through the Small Business Administration. These applications require having a current mailing address, insurance information, statements to show total household income, banking information, and a working telephone number; not the easiest items to pull together if your home has been demolished.
People with no place to live are still expected to pay rent and make mortgage payments, and file inordinate amounts of paperwork to ask for lenience. There’s a sense of urgency to return to normalcy even though normalcy involves pollution, poor public health, inequitable housing and hazardous risks for vulnerable populations.
People’s livelihoods and their health are affected when disasters happen. That is why elected officials must assess what recovery means for Americans, especially our vulnerable populations, during an era of climate change.
Our governments (federal, state and local) need to invest in capacity building and planning, and improve the distribution of funding before and after events. We cannot continue to keep rebuilding the same way. The financial and emotional burden of those impacted by the disasters cannot continue to be overlooked.
This is an issue that I will make a priority if elected, and it is part of why I was recently endorsed by the Sierra Club while my opponent received a lifetime grade of an “F” on environmental issues. If elected I will do everything in my power to address the fact that environmental protection is economic protection.
Vangie Williams
Candidate for Congress
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Vangie Williams is a public servant and strategic planner who solves problems for our federal government. A real-world professional with 30 years of experience, Vangie is not a career politician who will put corporate interests above people. She is committed to an economy for everyone, healthy families and investing in our communities. Learn more about her vision to put people first at www.vangieforcongress.com.
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