Preparedness Update
August 8, 2007 FEMA Asks "Are You Ready"
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Wondering if you are adequately prepared for a natural disaster or terrorist attack? The Federal Emergency Management Agency publishes "Are You Ready?" An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness. The book is FEMA’s most comprehensive source on individual, family, and community preparedness.
"Are You Ready?" provides a step-by-step approach to disaster preparedness by walking the reader through how to get informed about local emergency plans, how to identify hazards that affect their local area, and how to develop and maintain an emergency communications plan and disaster supplies kit. Other topics covered include evacuation, emergency public shelters, animals in disaster, and information specific to people with disabilities. Visit the FEMA website for information on how to order the book, or to download it directly as a PDF file. Read more in VOICES Preparedness Updates section.
August 8, 2007 Congress Urges Bush to Share Continuity Plan
Another potential conflict between the White House and Congress is brewing over the President's plans for continuity of government in case of a disaster or terrorist attack on the nation's capital. Continuity plans have been required since the development of intercontinental nuclear weapons. But new plans based on no advance warning have been developed because of the element of surprise in terrorist attacks. President Bush ordered a new plan on May 9th and will only share its classified elements with Congressional leaders, not the full Homeland Security committee which claims jurisdiction over continuity planning. Read more in VOICES Preparedness Updates section.
Legislative Update
August 9, 2007 CIA To Release 9/11 Report
A provision of the recently passed 9/11 bill will force the CIA to release a long secret internal accounting of its performance prior to the terrorist attacks. The agency has 30 days to release a declassified version to the public, and will send Congress a classified annex that explains the report’s redactions, according to the law signed by President Bush last week. Until now, the CIA had refused to disclose any part of the report since its former inspector general (IG), John Helgerson, completed the final draft more than two years ago. Helgerson's report is more critical of the agency than the 9/11 Commission’s 2004 report. It is believed to single out high level officials for contributing to internal failings including CIA Director George Tenet, former Deputy Director of Operations James Pavitt, and former CIA Counterterrorism Center Chief Cofer Black. All have since left the agency. Read more in VOICES Legislative Update.
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