Contingency Planning

FEMA/Tribal Nations to Hold Emergency Management Training

August 17, 2007

Representatives from 12 tribal nations in North and South Dakota will gather in Ft. Yates last week with state, federal and tribal emergency management personnel for intensive disaster training classes.

The classes, a joint project of area tribal governments and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), included training in a wide range of topics involving how to prepare for, respond to and recover from floods, snow storms and other disasters. The instructors were from the federal Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Md., FEMA Region VIII and tribal organizations.

On Tuesday evening, Robert Flowers, administrator of FEMA’s Region VIII, which includes North and South Dakota, gave the keynote address during ceremonies, commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the implementation of the FEMA/Tribal Relations Policy.

"I am honored to be a part of this event," Flowers said. "It's a celebration of a decade of productive cooperation between FEMA and the dedicated leaders and emergency management staff from the tribal nations."

Also speaking at the commemoration was Jesse Taken Alive, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe council representative. He was president of the tribal council in 1997 and spearheaded efforts to create the federal/tribal policy.

The commemoration and class will take place in the main conference room at the Prairie Knights Casino and Resort in Ft. Yates. The location has significance in the history of FEMA and tribal relations, according to FEMA Tribal Liaison Del Brewer.

"The conference room is the exact same spot where 10 years ago, the FEMA director – James Lee Witt – first presented the FEMA/Tribal policy," Brewer says. "And this time we're going to talk about what we've accomplished in the past 10 years."

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

- FEMA