National Emergency Management Association

#EMStrong #NEMAReadyNation

Reform FEMA, Not Abolish FEMA. Joint statement from NEMA, BCEM and IAEM

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Jack Jowett, a dedicated leader in emergency management and a cherished friend and mentor to me and so many others. Jack’s career was defined by service, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to improving disaster response and mutual aid. He dedicated his life to strengthening emergency management at the state and national levels, beginning his career as Assistant Planner and Deputy Director of Civil Defense for a county in upstate New York. He went on to serve the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services for 27 years, retiring in 2009. Jack’s leadership extended far beyond New York. He was deeply involved in NEMA activities since 1985, serving as an assistant to New York State Emergency Management Director Donald DeVito. Jack played a key role in national policy efforts, including those that led to the passage of the Stafford Act in 1988. In 1996, he was selected by FEMA Administrator James Lee Witt to help re-engineer the FEMA Public Assistance Program. Jack’s work with EMAC (Emergency Management Assistance Compact) was one of his most defining legacies. He was actively involved in EMAC since its ratification by Congress in 1996, serving as the first EMAC Lead State Representative for FEMA Region 2 and later as EMAC Executive Task Force Chair from 2004 to 2006. Under his leadership, EMAC saw historic deployment of state and local resources during the 2004 hurricane season - the first time local first responder resources were utilized through EMAC for hurricane response. In 2005, as the nation responded to Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita, Jack’s leadership was instrumental in deploying over 67,000 state and local response personnel through EMAC. He provided national leadership on EMAC policy, ensuring the system was viable as a critical response and recovery mechanism for the United States. His strategic planning efforts led to the first EMAC strategic plan, After Action Reports for major disasters, and the development of EMAC training materials, including the EMI Resident Course “Understanding the Emergency Management Assistance Compact” and the A-Team Operations Course. Jack was not just a leader, he was a mentor, an educator, and one of the nation’s foremost experts on EMAC. He trained emergency management professionals nationwide, facilitated workshops, and shaped the future of mutual aid and disaster response. Beyond his professional achievements, Jack was a steadfast friend. He had a way of making every day better with his kindness, wisdom, and humor. Jack Jowett leaves behind a legacy of service, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to the emergency management community. His impact on EMAC and emergency management will be felt for generations. Rest in peace, Jack. You will be missed.

KY Governor Andy Beshear on working with FEMA. https://lnkd.in/etrJVNpg

Join us on February 26, 2025, at 2:00 pm ET for the next installment of the NEMA EMpowerment e-Learning series. Former Chief Judge of the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals Jeri Somers joins host Sam Van Kopp of Cordatis LLP and a distinguished panel of state government and industry experts to discuss the Board’s most important arbitration decisions of the last six years. Through the application of flexible procedural rules that Chief Judge Somers implemented and following norms that Chief Judge Somers helped establish, the Board has applied FEMA regulations and policy in ways that have reinterpreted the practical meaning of Public Assistance eligibility. This Webinar will explore how the Board’s most impactful arbitration decisions have either reinforced or diverged from FEMA’s appellate precedent as it relates to the six most commonly arbitrated issues before the Board: (1) timeliness and arbitrability; (2) the adequacy of documentation; (3) the attribution of damage as a ‘direct’ result of a disaster; (4) the proper application of FEMA’s 50% rule; (5) the boundaries of cost reasonableness; and (6) Covid-19 cost recovery. Our panelists will share their own experiences of FEMA-internal appeals and CBCA arbitration and discuss the practical consequences of the policies and regulations that are the subject of these disputes. Register today! https://lnkd.in/eu2WfrPN.

Strong Partnerships are key to building an efficient, effective, and resilient emergency management system! Thank you to ASTHO and NGA GHSAC and all who attended for your commitment and leadership. https://lnkd.in/eUWM5BZN

Join us February 26, 2025 at 2:00 pm ET for the next installment of the NEMA EMpowerment e-Learning series. Former Chief Judge of the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals Jeri Somers joins host Sam Van Kopp of Cordatis LLP and a distinguished panel of state government and industry experts to discuss the Board’s most important arbitration decisions of the last six years. Through the application of flexible procedural rules that Chief Judge Somers implemented, and following norms that Chief Judge Somers helped establish, the Board has applied FEMA regulations and policy in ways that have reinterpreted the practical meaning of Public Assistance eligibility. This Webinar will explore how the Board’s most impactful arbitration decisions have either reinforced or diverged from FEMA’s appellate precedent as it relates to the six most commonly arbitrated issues before the Board: (1) timeliness and arbitrability; (2) the adequacy of documentation; (3) the attribution of damage as a ‘direct’ result of a disaster; (4) the proper application of FEMA’s 50% rule; (5) the boundaries of cost reasonableness; and (6) Covid-19 cost recovery. Our panelists will share their own experiences of FEMA-internal appeals and CBCA arbitration, and discuss the practical consequences of the policies and regulations that are the subject of these disputes. Register today! https://lnkd.in/eu2WfrPN.

TOMORROW: Join us at 2:00 pm ET. Hear from speakers on lessons from North Carolina’s crisis communications during Hurricane Helene & partnerships between public health and emergency management agencies. https://zurl.co/PehYJ

LAST CALL: Don’t miss our next EMpowerment e-Learning session on January 16 at 2:00 pm ET! Register now: #NEMAEMpowerment https://zurl.co/GPz7s

Don’t forget to register for NEMA’s EMpowerment session on January 16 at 2:00pm ET. Hear from speakers on lessons from North Carolina’s crisis communications during Hurricane Helene & partnerships between public health and emergency management agencies. https://zurl.co/xnMwI