FEMA Administrator's Second Letter to All Emergency Managers

Pete Gaynor, FEMA administrator, has sent another letter to all emergency managers here in the United States, seeFEMA Administrator April 15, 2020, letter to Emergency Managers

I'll highlight just a few items. 

• FEMA is deep into the medical supply business at this point. Numerous points being made in the letter are related to those duties. To be effective, he needs good data coming in -- is one message. Also, related are rumors he is trying to counter about FEMA seizing shipments of PPE or outbidding other government entities. 
• Another emphasis is the role that state and local jurisdictions have in the supply distribution system. When you get deliveries -- PASS THE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES ON!
• There are specialized resources like the Alternate Care Sites, likely also called Field Hospitals. They need to be carefully planned for, and when the need for them is no longer evident, then demobilize or turn off the setting-up of the facilities so they can be deployed to locations where they are needed. 
• I appreciated his comment about on-the-fly "adaptation." It is a hallmark of our American way of doing things. It permeates our military and our thinking in general. Don't let "we've always done it this way" get in the way of speed and utility. In short, screw the process if it is for process' sake only. Pole-vault over that mouse turd and keep moving!

Finally, I'd offer this advice to our FEMA administrator. If you are in a meeting at the White House and someone says, "Hey Pete, I'd like to talk to you about taking over the COVID-19 testing for the nation ..." run away, run, run, run away!