FROM EMA
This week EMA participated in a summit bringing together private industry professionals with state government emergency response leaders. EMA participated in the opening panel consisting of Chris Eisenbrey, Edison Electric Institute (EEI), Carmela Hinderacker, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Sherri Stone, Energy Marketers of America (EMA), Kent Kildow, Verizon, Bob Crow, Cencora and Lee Siler, Walmart.
EMA continues working with federal and state emergency response officials to increase our industry efficiencies before and after disasters and to increase knowledge around what governments do that also get in the way of marketers ability to fully fuel stations, airports and homes before a known emergency and to refuel the country post disasters.
Much of the discussions and exercises throughout the summit centered around the policy recommendations that are included in the Voices from the Front Lines, “What Seasoned Industry Leaders Urge Federal Policymakers to Consider as They Rethink Disaster Survivor Support” document that was shared with the White House and is now used for all policymakers considering the evolution of disaster response. One of the recommendations from the group is to sustain FEMA’s role as a coordination hub for federal agency support.
EMA outlined the many government entities that we coordinate with during disasters and addressed the process for obtaining hours-of-service waivers. We also addressed the limited access to TWIC escorts at terminals during disasters, and the need for multi-state coordination during response efforts. EMA also provided numerous recommendations concerning streamlining the process for obtaining any waiver, terminal access and security, support for EMA’s Disaster Fuel Response Program, and removal of logistical roadblocks.
The guide was created in response to the proposed changes for FEMA and what should be considered when restructuring government disaster response. For now, states have not received specific information on how the disaster response process will change. The White House Council recommendations have not been officially reported, leaving states not knowing what will be expected of them during disasters and wondering how disaster response will be funded.
