Witt says FEMA has streamlined its operations, allowing it to respond more quickly to disasters   VIDEO CNN's Kathleen Koch reports on FEMA's role in hurricane response. Windows Media 28K 80K

August 28, 1999
Web posted at: 9:28 p.m. EDT (0128 GMT)

From Reporter Kathleen Koch

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Following intense criticism for its response to Hurricane Andrew seven years ago, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has taken great strides to prepare for natural coastal disasters. With Hurricane Dennis churning off the East Coast, FEMA promises it is ready.

Besides holding teleconferences with the National Hurricane Center and coastal states to check local preparations, the agency has already moved emergency supplies into many East Coast locations.

"We've pre-designated staging areas in each state and have actually deployed things like generators, plastic sheets for the homes, water, ice, meals, things like that," says FEMA Director of Operations Bruce Baughman.

The agency is also trying to notify uninsured homeowners, some of who received government flood grants to rebuild after 1996's Hurricane Fran, that the federal government will not bail them out this time.

"They will not again be able to get administrator relief from taxpayers, but they've had plenty of warning. Our hearts go out to people who may have missed this message," says Jo Ann Howard, FEMA federal insurance administrator.

The tough love comes from an agency which has taken its own lumps on the way to becoming a streamlined operation.

Responsible for responding to disasters from floods to tornadoes to the Oklahoma City bombing, FEMA has a broad mandate. But it was not always up to the task.

FEMA's response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was so poor that Congress considered eliminating the agency.

But FEMA Director James Lee Witt has reportedly turned the operation around. A former county judge and director of Arkansas emergency services, Witt was named FEMA director in 1992.

"We have streamlined it so much now where when disasters happen we can actually process much quicker, much faster, with more accountability for the dollars," says Witt.

Lacy Suiter has seen the change. He ran emergency services in Tennessee before joining FEMA and knows how long the excruciating wait for federal aid can be.

"It would take a long, long time. It would take days, if not weeks, sometimes to get it," he said.

During the past year and a half, FEMA has focused increasingly on prevention. In the projected path of Hurricane Dennis are several coastal communities where the agency has an ongoing pre-emptive program to minimize the chance of storm damage.

They are betting that with a little planning, communities can better survive the wrath of nature.

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