Open Letter to Emergency Managers

WE HAVE A FIVE-ALARM EMERGENCY ON OUR HANDS

A wise man warned that leaders should make no changes until they have attained a profound understanding of the system they want to change and have thoroughly assessed the unintended consequences of their actions. If leaders do not, W. Edwards Deming warned, there will be awful results.

The U.S. is facing a Five Alarm emergency caused by the chaotic and ignorant disruption of Federal programs now underway in the guise of improving government efficiency. “Ignorance” does not necessarily imply bad intent, but it does describe lack of adequate knowledge about what one is doing and basic skill in doing it.

Just as a two-year-old means her mother no harm when pulling the trigger on a handgun she found in the nightstand, those who tear apart systems without understanding them do irreparable harm to society, regardless of their intent.

I have no quarrel with the Trump Administration’s vision of right-sizing the federal government by reviewing every activity, vigorously scrubbing every program, and scrutinizing every single staff position to make sure they are properly and efficiently serving our nation’s best interests, then working with Congress to effect change. Such an undertaking is not only proper, but also very commendable if it is done right.

However, the undisciplined approach now underway is dangerous to national security and public safety. On the present course, the Administration’s cascading mistakes and unintended consequences will harm our nation, local communities and individual citizens in unimaginable ways for decades to come. In truth, this nation may never recover from the harm that’s already been done.

This is not a partisan political issue. We are faced with a serious and growing national emergency requiring cooperation, understanding, and dedication to the common good.

Emergency managers, both individually and through their professional organizations, need to take responsibility and immediately sound the alarm. We, among all professions, are in a unique position to observe policy and program impacts on public health, public safety, and the lives of everyday people in our communities, particularly those who are most vulnerable. Just as we urgently warn our communities and initiate emergency actions as we see rising flood waters, we are obligated to do the same when cascading national events pose equal or even greater risk to our communities.

Sudden and uncoordinated changes at the Federal level are now impacting hospitals, schools, police, fire and rescue departments, water utilities, transportation agencies, scientific research programs, and public service agencies in every U.S. community. Public safety is now at risk. Early shocks of unexpected changes are only now being felt, but like with a rising flood, we need to look upstream to see what’s coming and take effective action.

For instance, U.S. hospitals are now in near-panic mode as they try to deal with impossible federal mandates and an impending financial Armageddon. International NGOs working to stem the migrant crisis have been devastated by the USAID default on paying obligations. Medical teams have been disrupted at CDC and NIH where public health threats need to be constantly monitored and assessed, such as the rapidly growing Bird Flu spectrum (H5x), evolving human respiratory illnesses, and scores of exotic diseases around the world that could arrive unexpectedly in any U.S. city. The FAA has lost a cadre of trainees that would be replacements for aging safety inspectors and air traffic controllers. The military has lost senior, seasoned leadership. The nation has lost a generation of its best and brightest from the Foreign Service. The list goes on.

These disruptions fundamentally affect the lives and welfare of every citizen in this country. Emergency managers are morally and ethically bound to assess this risk and act.

I have deployed over 100 times in support of states and tribal governments during major disasters. I’ve worked at the table with state governors, tribal chairs, Cabinet officers, county sheriffs, local volunteers and international NGO officials as we collectively did our best to reduce suffering. I served as a regional president for the International Association of Emergency Managers and was board director of the National Coordinating Council of Emergency Management as it transitioned to the premier international body it is today. I know disasters when I see them, and this rapidly surging tsunami of national disruption is the worst national disaster I’ve ever faced.

I urge my colleagues to take the following actions:

1. Contact your Member of Congress and Senators and urge them to immediately assert full Congressional oversight and control over all organizational changes and expenditure variations initiated by the Executive Branch, as required by Article I of the U.S. Constitution.

2. Write a letter to President Trump outlining your recommendations for organizational and budgetary positions that he might propose to Congress but emphasize that such changes need to be accomplished through the legislative process.

3. Establish a multidisciplinary public-private support network in your community dedicated to social justice, lawful processes, moral resilience, generosity, kindness and decency. Support one another, share strategies and resources, and keep one another encouraged. Subscribe to and support honest journalism.

4. Be courageous and never back down from doing what is moral, ethical and just.as you serve your neighbors, your community, and this great nation that you have sworn to protect.

5. Do what you can, with whatever you have, whenever you can, for as long as you can, to help those in need and protect your community.

As Emergency Managers, you have an important role in providing information, education, and professional advice in turbulent times and you are uniquely situated to take action when public safety is threatened.

We must act together to keep today’s Five Alarm emergency from becoming the worst catastrophe in our nation’s history.

Respectfully,

Bascombe J. Wilson, CEM? Emeritus

Colonel USAF (Retired)