Adviser Preaches Preparedness

Homeland Security Adviser Frances Fragos Townsend advocated a two-pronged plan for national preparedness at the Institute of Politics yesterday.

Townsend, in a speech entitled “Tranforming National Awareness,” told an audience of about 50 people that a unified effort on the part of federal, state, and local governments is necessary to ensure a speedy response in times of disaster.

These governments “have not developed a shared commitment” to national preparedness, she said.

“Without shared vision,” Townsend said, “we will not achieve a transformational state of preparedness that the nation requires.”

Before the country is ready to handle a national disaster such as terrorism or a severe hurricane, Townsend said, the U.S. must first “define and implement a comprehensive national preparedness system.”

More specifically, Townsend advocated the creation of a new headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security and the strengthening of the department’s field resources through a homeland security university where personnel could receive training in crisis management.

“We must first eliminate bureaucratic red tape” to truly create “unity of effort,” she said.

The second aspect of Townsend’s preparedness plan emphasized the role of local communities, rather than the federal government, in disaster readiness.

“It is not enough for the government to prepare,” Townsend said. “Every part of society must prepare.”

“State and local governments have substantial primary responsibility for preparedness,” she added.

Education and awareness about disaster management at all levels would leave the country better able to cope with challenges, Townsend said, creating a “culture of preparedness.”

She stressed the creation of preparedness campaigns akin to “Stop, Drop, and Roll” and “Buckle Up America” in order to increase the public’s disaster readiness.

And in response to an audience member’s question, Townsend denied that a constant concern with preparedness would keep Americans in a state of terror.

“Preparation is the antidote to fear,” Townsend noted. “We aren’t trying to frighten the American people.”