http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=49834FEMA Administrator Fugate And Missouri Governor Nixon Discuss Importance Of Faith-Based And Community Organization Partnerships During Disaster Response Release Date: October 23, 2009
Release Number: HQ-09-130
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate met with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and a diverse group of faith leaders to discuss the state of Missouri’s partnership with local religious and community groups during disaster response and preparedness efforts. The meeting was part of Administrator Fugate’s continued efforts to build partnerships with key stakeholders and community leaders as FEMA works to increase public preparedness and strengthen our nation’s emergency response team.
“FEMA’s only one part of our nation’s emergency response team,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Today’s event underscores the importance of the partnerships that this response team depends upon. While the team is based on our relationships with the Governors we serve, such as Governor Nixon, our success is built on strong working relationships with the private sector, non-profits, and faith-based groups, like those we met with today. As we continue to build these partnerships across the country, Governor Nixon and his team should be proud of the team that already exists here in Missouri.”
“I am delighted that Administrator Fugate traveled here to learn more about Missouri’s innovative disaster response partnership and to put some of Missouri’s creative ideas to work to benefit our fellow Americans,” said Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. “I thank the religious, volunteer and community leaders for their continuing efforts to generously assist their fellow Missourians and for traveling from across the state to attend today’s meeting and share their valuable ideas about furthering the government and faith-based partnership.”
Missouri Governor Nixon’s faith-based organization disaster initiative is designed to deliver more assistance to disaster survivors more quickly through greater collaboration among faith-based organizations, community groups, local emergency managers and Missouri state disaster response agencies.
Faith-based organizations and other community groups play a critical role in the education and preparedness of families across the country. Just as FEMA’s partners at the federal, state, local, and tribal level, as well as the private sector, bring vital resources to bear during preparedness, response, and recovery efforts, non-profit, community, and faith-based organizations are central to our success as we work to better prepare our nation’s emergency response team.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
