FREE....May 13-14, 2019. DC HOMELEAND SECURITY AND PREPAREDNESS SYMPOSIUM.

DC HomEleand Security and Preparedness Symposium

Session 2:  State Panel Facilitated Discussion: Accommodating the Whole Community Presenters: §  Dennis Boyd, New York City Office of Emergency Management §  Dawn Brantley, Virginia Department of Emergency Management §  Christine Heyser, Department of Human Services, Harrisburg, PA §  Beth MacDonald, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Moderator: Delores Scott, DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) This session will address how disability rights laws apply to emergency management, legal trends and promising practices for accommodating the whole community.  Registration:  Registration is free, but space is limited. I encourage you to register as soon as you can.  Here is the link: https://attendify.co/symposium-day-one-9am-530pm-YZdUUFF.

GAO Report: DHS, FEMA Disaster Recovery Contracting Process Needs Major Fixes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GAO Report: DHS, FEMA Disaster Recovery Contracting Process Needs Major Fixes

April 25, 2019 (WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced the release of a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report he requested on the DHS and FEMA contracting process for disaster recovery efforts. The report, entitled “Actions Needed to Improve the Use of Post-Disaster Contracts to Support Response and Recovery” found that: The contracting process for post-disaster recovery efforts lacks transparency due to “inconsistent implementation of the criteria for” tracking data related to post-disaster Federal procurement. FEMA did not consistently justify awards to vendors outside the disaster area, meaning the agency may have missed opportunities to award contracts to local businesses, which could help jump-start the local economy. FEMA’s contracting workforce has dozens of vacancies, including contracting specialists and other critical leadership positions. Chairman Thompson released the following statement on the report:     “This GAO report makes clear that the federal government still has work to do when it comes to contracting for disaster recovery and response efforts. Spending on disaster contracts lacks much-needed transparency – taxpayers need to know what they’re funding to provide survivors assistance in the aftermath of a disaster.  The GAO also found that disaster recovery contracting is not locally focused, so businesses feeling the pain of loss after a disaster are often not given the chance to help rehabilitate their community and restart their business. “The GAO report also highlights how FEMA is still undergoing serious staffing challenges that need to be addressed by the Administration.  As we are about to enter the 2019 hurricane season, I urge DHS and FEMA to promptly fill these important vacancies and follow through on the GAO’s recommendations that will increase productivity and transparency in the disaster response and recovery process.” Following the release of the report, Chairman Thompson sent a letter to Acting FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor to demand answers about the large slate of vacancies in FEMA’s contracting workforce. #  #  # Media contact: Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978

CERF: The fund that functions 'like the ambulance for the UN'. April 2019

UNITED NATIONS CERF: The fund that functions 'like the ambulance for the UN' "What CERF does best is get there very early," explains Lisa Doughten, who oversees operations of the U.N.'s Central Emergency Response Fund. Will require login https://www.devex.com/login?return_to=%2Fnews%2Fcerf-the-fund-that-functions-like-the-ambulance-for-the-un-94731%3Fmkt_tok%3DeyJpIjoiTkRKaE4yUTFORFl4T0dZMCIsInQiOiJsc2dEVEtcLzlKZVk5bGNpSzRUOXpXVzAwb3oxOTBOa1hES1wvUXFBUDBaY2hXRHhFUktrbWhPc3NUaVd1NFwvK3dnOVdMcXN4R0xpWjRGQ2lBSlJ5NmdcL3RtYVYyem5KXC9SRHhzRnJIbzRcL3FMRFJXNmZOdnFVMFhUWjI0azVvRFU0ciJ9%26utm_campaign%3Dtop%26utm_content%3Dtitle%26utm_medium%3Ddevinsider%26utm_source%3Dnewsletter

Local entrepreneurs on funding access: 'The system is broken'. April 2019

Local entrepreneurs on funding access: 'The system is broken' Investing in social entrepreneurs is an oft-touted solution to tackling development challenges. But the system designed to support them is flawed, several entrepreneurs at the Skoll World Forum tell Devex. Read more