Written testimony of FEMA Administrator for a March 13 Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia hearing on FEMA’s FY 2015 Budget Request.

The Diva listened to part of the testimony and the questions from the committee chairman.  One new item  caught my eye. Among the five strategic priorities he listed, the second of those is “become an expeditionary organization.” (See page 2 of written statement.) Now that is a new term for me. The term is not really described anywhere;on page 7 of the testimony, the only discussion is as follows:

As part of FEMA’s effort and its stated strategic priority to become an expeditionary organization, the Agency is working to develop a leader, more agile workforce that is well equipped, educated and trained.

I sent an email to Craig Fugate asking for clarification, and he was gracious enough to reply the same day. Here is his explanation:

Become an Expeditionary Organization. Through this strategic priority, FEMA seeks to increase and improve engagement across the preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation mission areas by being present in the right place, at the right time and with the right people and resources. FEMA will work with our partners across the whole community to align with the needs and expectations of our partners.

Just because it works at 500 C street doesn’t mean it will work in ( a disaster, your state, your community, etc.)

[For those outside of Washington, DC, the street mentioned is the location of FEMA HQ!]