City of New Orleans Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 2009

MAYORS FROM AROUND COUNTRY EMBRACE STAFFORD CHANGE RECOMMENDATIONS

*Mayor Nagin presented preliminary report at U.S. Conference of Mayors' Fall Leadership Meeting* NEW ORLEANS (October 5, 2009) -- Mayors from around the country responded enthusiastically to a preliminary report from Mayor C. Ray Nagin about the need for revisions to the Stafford Act, which governs federal disaster response. Mayor Nagin presented the report during the U.S. Conference of Mayors' (USCM) Fall Leadership Meeting, which was held in Seattle from Friday through Sunday. Mayor Nagin, who is leading a task force on reforming the Stafford Act, will develop a white paper with specific recommendations for changes to the act during the USCM's winter meeting. Mayor Kevin Johnson of Sacramento is serving as Vice Chairman of the task force. "The Stafford Act has proven inadequate to response and recovery for recent disasters, particularly in catastrophic events," said Mayor Nagin. "Reform of the Stafford Act is important to every community in the country because all cities are at risk of natural or man-made disasters." Mayor Nagin and Mayor Johnson presented their priorities for the task force, which center on issues that Mayor Nagin has been championing since Hurricane Katrina and the breached levees devastated New Orleans. They include: Establish catastrophic disaster designation (larger magnitude than "major" disasters) and access to immediate funding Provide local/municipal jurisdictions standing as "grantees" Facilitate direct reimbursement to cities that provide mutual aid and honor certifications and licenses across state lines Assure experienced and adequate staffing for FEMA's Public Assistance program Develop third party, neutral and timely appeal process (separate from arbitration) Develop a more effective Hazard Mitigation Program Improve parameters of disaster housing Revamp the Individual Assistance Program to be more responsive to citizen needs Charleston, S.C. Mayor Joseph Riley Jr., who led his city's recovery from Hurricane Hugo, said that the changes Mayor Nagin has proposed are critical. For example, he said, it is not reasonable to expect cities to spend valuable time and resources on bureaucratic red tape following catastrophic events. "What you need is the recognition that this is a catastrophe and you don't have time for that," said Mayor Riley. Just as in "an Army's response to war, catastrophes are disasters of such scope that every second is important." New Orleans was listed by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as the North American city most vulnerable to climate change, which could lead to flooding. Sacramento is the second most vulnerable to flooding because of the status of its levees. Also during the Leadership Meeting, more than 60 mayors conferred with U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims, Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary John Pocari, White House Urban Affairs Office Director Aldofo Carrion, National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske, U.S. Census Bureau Director Dr. Robert Groves, and others on stimulus implementation, climate protection, green jobs creation and other policies that impact urban America and metropolitan cities.
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