BOISE, Idaho — Several agencies across the Pacific Northwest, including in Idaho, are receiving response training from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) where responders are learning about disaster preparedness and recovery for the communities of which they serve.
FEMA coordinates with the federal government to address disasters in a given area across the United States. Idaho, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington, as well as 271 federally recognized tribes are supported by FEMA Region 10.
On Tuesday, FEMA Regional Administrator Willie G. Nunn hosted training for Idaho responders at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, where he discussed FEMA's ongoing effort to help states understand what can happen and what to expect during a national or regional disaster.
"You don't want to be handing out a business card at a disaster," Nunn said. "Relationships and partnerships are critical. I always say that we're not just Region 10 FEMA, we're one FEMA."
Nunn went on to express the importance of building relationships with state agencies and private sectors before disaster strikes a community. He said that is the key to navigating an incident.
"Disasters, when they hit one state that's so integrated, it could affect the rest of the country," Nunn said. "So, having those partnerships and relationships early on, help us work together better and understand how that particular state or territory, or even that tribe, how they work together."
In addition to the state agencies and private sectors, Nunn said it's important for local communities to be equipped for catastrophes as well.
Find tips for how to best prepare for disasters on FEMA's disaster preparedness website here.
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