FEMA TRIBAL POLICY UPDATE Tribal Emergency Preparedness Conference

FEMA TRIBAL POLICY UPDATE Tribal Emergency Preparedness Conference Great Wolf Lodge September 29, 2010 FEMA Tribal Policy Update

Topics § Background § Policy Update § Subsequent Efforts 2 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide Working Initiative Group

Background § FEMA first established the Tribal Policy in 1998 • James Lee Witt era § Tribal support efforts in their infancy • Region 8 declarations • Hurricane issues § Tribal Liaisons designated 3 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide Working Initiative Group

Background 2 of 2 § Presidential Memorandum on Tribal Consultation • November 5, 2009 • New Administration emphasis § DHS Tribal Consultation and Coordination Plan • March 1, 2010 • Departmental emphasis 4 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide Working Initiative Group

FEMA Tribal Policy § Presidential Memorandum identified need to update Policy § Departmental Plan provided additional guidance § Existing policy circulated • Tribes • Alaskan Native Villages • Departments – Health – BIA – HUD • Associations and organizations § Updated Policy approved June 29, 2010 • Posted to Federal Register 5 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide Working Initiative Group

So what is changed? The new policy is not very different from our old policy § Highlights of changes • • • New Administration Emphasis 3 Year review cycle Single Definitions for Indian Tribal Government More specifics under ‘eliminate procedural impediments’ Implementation Plan (180 days) 6 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide Working Initiative Group

So what is not changed? The new policy is not very different from our old policy § 8 Policy Principles remain relatively unchanged • • Nation-to-Nation relationship Consultation before taking actions Acknowledge trust responsibility Eliminate/diminish procedural impediments * Partner with other Federal Agencies Encourage cooperation among entities Acknowledge Policy Commitments/Decisions Best Efforts 7 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide Working Initiative Group

Subsequent Efforts Updating the policy is not enough § National Tribal Policy working group • w/ 180 day deadline to develop Implementation Plan § Multi-divisional effort • • • Response Recovery Mitigation Grants Training Regions 8 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide Working Initiative Group

So what else is interesting about this? 5 Policy Update Action Areas (in Draft) • ‘ …allow FEMA to work more directly with Tribes …’ • ‘ …include Tribal governments into grant programs and processes to support … nation-to-nation relationship. ’ • ‘ … designate full-time Tribal Liaisons in appropriate FEMA regional offices. ’ • ‘ … FEMA leadership to engage Tribal government leadership in discussions. ’ • ‘ … expanding training efforts to include … delivery of emergency management training to Tribal locations (on-site). ’ 9 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide Working Initiative Group

Action Area 1 ‘ …allow FEMA to work more directly with Tribes …’ • • • Post declaration emphasis Tribal Disaster Requests being investigated for feasibility NFIP Programs being reviewed for greater inclusion Special issues/considerations being investigated Restrictions on assistance delivery being evaluated 10 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide Working Initiative Group

Action Area 2 ‘…include Tribal governments into grant programs and processes to support …. nation-to-nation relationship. ’ • Preparedness Grants – State role – strengthen the language that currently exists on encouraging States to work with tribal nations. • Mitigation model • Explore Tribal allocations for: – Drivers License, EOC, Stonegarden, EMPG, SHSP • Further Increase THSP 11 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide Working Initiative Group

Action Area 3 ‘ … designate full-time Tribal liaisons in appropriate FEMA regional offices. ’ • Region 9 example – Dedicated Liaison – 3 regions have no Tribal reservations • Current Region 10 approach – – Preparedness Liaisons – Disaster Liaison – Program contacts § Mitigation, NFIP, COOP, Citizen Prep • More Resources coming –. 5 FTE ‘in process’ • Also includes Legal Support element 12 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide Working Initiative Group

Action Area 4 ‘ … FEMA leadership to engage Tribal government leadership in discussions. ’ • Regional Administrator Murphy Presentation • Future examples – Request invitations to speak • Other Options – Regional Officials – HQ Representatives – Federal Coordinating Officials 13 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide Working Initiative Group

Action Area 5 ‘ … expanding training efforts to include … delivery of emergency management training to Tribal locations (on-site). ’ • More deliveries of existing courses ‘in the field’ – 580, 581, Mitigation Course (new number) • Tribal COOP course – Coming to field in 2011 • Tribal Leaders Course – In final development – Half-day course • Others ? ? • Partner with other functions 14 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide Working Initiative Group

The Road Ahead § Posted to the Federal Register to ensure awareness • Regional Outreach § Working Group Efforts Continue • December 30 deadline for Implementation Plan § Specific recommendations under development § Administrator to receive Working Group Plan 15 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide Working Initiative Group

Questions 16 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide Working Initiative Group

FEMA TRIBAL POLICY UPDATE Andrew Hendrickson, CEM Tribal Liaison FEMA Region 10 425 -487 -4784 FEMA Tribal Policy Update