FEMA announced two initiatives to
advance equity across the agency, which are part of the agency’s efforts to
focus on reducing barriers and increasing opportunities.
The two major
initiatives are the formation of an Equity Enterprise Steering Group and the
establishment of a robust stakeholder engagement process to develop the
agency’s 2022 – 2026 Strategic Plan. Both initiatives include internal and
external stakeholders to reflect the agency’s commitment to advancing equity.
These actions are just the first of many planned for the coming months.
Too many
disaster survivors face barriers in accessing assistance programs and resources
to support their recovery. Certain populations – specifically low-income
neighborhoods, communities of color, people with disabilities and older adults,
those with language barriers and those living in rural and isolated areas – are
disproportionately impacted by disasters. FEMA is committed to ensuring
disaster assistance programs do not exacerbate existing unequal conditions.
“We’re turning a
page at FEMA and infusing equity throughout our agency, programs, and policies
to better serve people who face unique barriers before, during and after
disasters,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “Systemic racism across
institutions and society has sidelined generations of people of color and
low-income households and that practice needs to end.”
The new Equity
Enterprise Steering Group is focused on assessing issues like access and delivery
of FEMA programs, services, and activities. Members include representatives
from each of the major offices across the agency and is co-chaired by the
Office of Equal Rights and the Office of Response and Recovery. The group is
designed to drive forward our commitment to equity in every part of the agency,
not just certain programs.
FEMA is
developing the 2022 – 2026 Strategic Plan through input from stakeholders
within the agency and beyond to reflect a whole of community perspective.
Stakeholders will inform the agency’s goals and objectives, with equity as a
foundational priority for the coming years.
“As emergency
managers, we must meet people where they are. Our first steps forward will
shape future decisions by engaging our teams, partners, key stakeholders, and
the public to boost access and reduce barriers,” Criswell said. “In time, we
hope our work will ultimately lead to systematic generational change for
underserved populations in disaster-prone communities.”
Increasing Additional Equitable Measures
FEMA continues
to use equity as a lens to drive response operations and deliver better
services to marginalized and other vulnerable populations. While FEMA continues
to work towards creating equitable outcomes for survivors, the agency is
working within its specific authorities and responsibilities to make changes,
including:
- Spearheading a successful
Community Vaccination Centers Mission to combat COVID-19 and administer vaccinations, in
which more than 58% of all vaccines were given to individuals of color,
provides a model for how equity considerations can be incorporated into
other policies and programs.
- Establishing three new positions
in the National Response Coordination Center to address equity during all large-scale response
operations with other federal agencies. Those positions include a civil
rights advisor, an accessibility compliance leader, and a tribal recovery
position.
- Encouraging active
employee engagement to ensure internal discussions generate new ideas on workplace
diversity, equity, and inclusion. Diverse organizations such as FEMA’s
Employee Resource Groups and other employee-led groups have partnered with
senior leadership to seek ideas and input.
- Hosting a Command and General
Staff “Equity Stand Down” with
over 400 FEMA field leaders on August 4-5. This will provide critical
information on civil rights law, equity “levers” field leaders can pull to
enhance equity, and training on how to use the many tools available within
FEMA to incorporate equity into tactical decision making (e.g., where to
place Disaster Recovery Centers).
- Issuing a request
for information and began soliciting public
comment on our programs to help identify regulations and policies
that may benefit from modification,
streamlining, expansion or repeal to better address climate change and
underserved communities and populations. The request for information will remain open until July 21.
- Assessing several
programs to determine where the
agency can make improvements and where there is a need for support from
other federal partners and the legislative branch.
- Expanding eligibility
criteria for Critical Needs Assistance to include applicants who state they
have a need for shelter but have not been able to leave their damaged
dwelling.
- Expanding access by
integrating a Documentation Drop Off Center model for Disaster Recovery Centers that
enables survivors to submit documentation in-person, notifies survivors
when a representative is available, and provides estimated wait times.
