Craig Fugate, Florida's director of emergency management and nominee for the post of FEMA administrator, received a warm reception from senators on the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs at his nomination hearing last week. If that reception is any indication of how the full Senate will vote on the nomination, the job is his.

As administrator he would end debate over whether FEMA should be a stand-alone agency and would improve partnerships between the agency and state and local governments that feel they've been cut out of the loop. He called for the agency to focus on preparedness and a coordinated response from the federal government for the next disaster, something that can't be done if staff is distracted.

Sen. Susan Collins, the ranking Republican on the committee, noted that Fugate has widespread political support. More importantly for his success in the long term, committee Chairman Sen. Joe Lieberman noted Fugate has the support, not only of Florida's governor, Charlie Crist, but of professional associations including the International Association of Emergency Manacharigers, International Association of Fire Chiefs and National Sheriffs' Association.

Fugate's experience in emergency management far exceeds the requirements of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act, Lieberman noted. Written in the wake of FEMA's response to Hurricane Katrina, the act remedies deficiencies in an agency whose strength was previously determined by the strength of the relationship the administrator enjoyed with the president. "The law requires that the FEMA administrator have a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security and at least five years of executive leadership and management experience," Lieberman said.

Fugate began his emergency management career as a volunteer firefighter. He then became a paramedic and a fire department lieutenant, before being elevated to the position of emergency manager of Alachua County, Fla., which he held for 10 years.

FEMA Administrator's Challenges

Since Fugate's background meets the act's requirements, the hearing was dedicated to questions about how, as administrator, he would meet the many challenges the agency faces. Those challenges include:
• the continued implementation of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act;
• improved coordination and partnerships with federal agencies and state and local governments impacted by disasters;
• accelerating the full recovery of the Gulf Coast from hurricanes Katrina and Rita;
improving FEMA's recovery programs;
• working with states to ensure that they are better prepared to respond to and recover from large-scale disasters; and
• improving the tracking of homeland security grant funds

In keeping with that, when Lieberman suggested that FEMA be at the table with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) planning and coordination with the private sector in the prevention of cyber-attacks, Fugate replied that FEMA's focus should be on the consequences of that attack. "If the power goes out, it's really not relevant what caused it to go out if the impacts are now affecting health care, critical infrastructure," Fugate said.

The agency has been criticized for having a know-it-all attitude toward state and local emergency management officials. While Fugate said there had been engagement between the agency and first responders, it usually occurred after FEMA had made a decision that state and local officials were merely asked to validate. "My approach [would be] to bring the stakeholders in to help us come up with the solutions and answer the questions, not present