The Suncoast News - Bilirakis Brings FEMA Oversight Role to Pasco

News Article

By Carl Orth

When U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis was touring emergency response agencies in the area, his first stop was the Pasco County Office of Emergency Management.

Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, was gathering facts after being named chairman of the House Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications Subcommittee, which oversees operation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Not only is Bilirakis concerned about the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1, but he was curious to see how local offices are ready to handle terrorism threats or other disasters.

The fact-finding mission yielded several insights that Bilirakis shared with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.

"It's a very positive thing for us," Pasco Emergency Management Director James D. Martin, said following Bilirakis' visit. "At least he is visiting the people in the trenches" in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Martin said.

"Florida deals with hurricane threats every year, and in the past year, we've also dealt with other disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill," Bilirakis said Friday. "As a high threat urban area, Tampa must be prepared to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks."

"We discussed some of the major incidents that impacted Florida during 2010, such as H1N1 (swine flu virus), and the uniqueness of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response," Martin said.

For instance, last June, during the Gulf oil spill, Martin's team registered volunteers in case the oil slick came this way. Two Pasco officials boarded a C-130 plane for a Coast Guard flight June 21 over the disaster area.

County officials calculated they would need up to 68,000 feet of boom to protect sensitive areas of the coast here. Martin was ready to sound an alert if the oil slick got within 94 miles of the Pasco coast, but that never happened.

Bilirakis "will also be responsible for the oversight of FEMA and making sure that the country is prepared for any potential emergencies," Martin said.

"Pasco County was honored to be the first local Emergency Operations Center that Congressman Bilirakis visited since being selected as the subcommittee chairman," Martin said.

"Florida's first responders and emergency management officials are on the front lines when disaster strikes, so it's important that I hear what has worked in the past and what can help their operations run more efficiently and effectively in the future," Bilirakis said.

"I plan to continue holding these meetings with local groups so I can share this information from the front lines with FEMA to enhance our prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response efforts to protect this nation."

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