20 Nov 2009

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano
Photograph Manuel Broussard, FEMA.

The forum was designed to encourage stakeholders to provide direct input and ideas for disaster recovery.

The Long Term Disaster Recovery Working Group recently held its third of five planned stakeholder forums in Los Angeles.

The Working Group - co-chaired by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan - is a high-level, strategic initiative that will recommend future improvements and help inform and develop a National Disaster Recovery Framework to provide operational guidance for recovery organizations.

"We are committed to ensuring a more resilient nation in which individuals, communities and the economy can adapt to changing conditions and rapidly recover from disasters of all kinds," said Secretary Napolitano. "These forums are providing valuable input and feedback to strengthen our disaster recovery capabilities nationwide."

The stakeholder meetings ensure that the vital voices of disaster recovery professionals and stakeholders are heard

"The stakeholder meetings ensure that the vital voices of disaster recovery professionals and stakeholders are heard as we move forward to improve disaster recovery efforts," said Secretary Donovan. "It allows those on the ground to tell us what works and what doesn't in responding to natural disasters."

The Working Group previously met with stakeholders to gather input and ideas in New York City on November 10 and in New Orleans on November 4.

The public is also encouraged to visit DisasterRecoveryWorkingGroup.gov to provide input on the same 16 specific questions posed to stakeholders at the Working Group meeting addressing disaster recovery management issues and opportunities. The web site, launched in October, provides more information about the Working Group's initiatives and upcoming stakeholder meetings in Salt Lake City (November 19) and Memphis (November 23).