mr. fugate, to another question. are you familiar with what the university of illinois has with this super computer that they are simulating the tornadoes and hurricanes and some simulating disasters on these computer models? i was down at the university of illinois which has the fastest computer, madam chairman, in the whole country and what they showed me a demonstration of is a simulated tornado and they can then study this and then actually prepare it based on the atmospheric conditions that have actually taken place in the development of the various winds and velocities and all the other elements that are going to make up a tornado as well as simulating floods and a disaster even in the city of chicago. they have this computer design that say there's a disaster in chicago. where's evacuation routes? do you know of any other facility where this is being studied computer wise or are these assimilations are taken place? >> senator, i know there's a lot of difficult products out there. i do not know directly about t

mr. fugate, what are your top three priorities. if you could for this committee because we like to work with and we are going to push, we're going to work with you but push to get the very best systems we can, so what are your top three priorities as you are stepping in to an agency with that has really been of the front-line in many ways these last few years? had to use you're top three priorities and i am certain that you discussed this with the secretary and the highest levels of this administration, so would you outline that for us now? >> yes, ma'am, they are rather broad and easy to communicate and require a lot of moving pieces and their simple -- my first and greatest priority is to increase and the responsibility and participation of our citizens to prepare for disaster. i truly believe that far too many of us to do not get prepared oftentimes but are also vulnerable citizens in jeopardy as we prepare for those resources and in looking at these large scale with disasters and i know that the more that those of us who can be

mr. fugate, to another question. are you familiar with the university of illinois has for this computer they are some awaiting the tornadoes and hurricanes and some leading disaster is on these computer models? laws at the university of a lie that has the fastest computers, madame chairwoman, in the country and what they showed me a demonstration of is a simulated tornado and they can then studied this and prepare based on the atmospheric conditions taking place in the development of the various wind and philosophy and other elements that make up a tornado as well as some leading floods and disaster even in chicago they have this computer design that says there's a disaster in chicago where is the e evacuation route or do you know of any other facility where this is being studied, computer wise or are these escalations taking place? >> chairman burris, i know there's programs out there but i don't know darkly about this, i will ask my staff to get with your staffs light can be briefed. >> we would certainly like to l

mr. fugate-mag good to see a senator. i would like to ask mr. fugate, if you can let me ask senator burris, i know you are just coming in and welcome. do you want to make any brief opening statements or should we go right to the panel? thank you, thank you senator. we are happy to have craig fugate with us who is the new administrative from the muck, and man that i supported and keep my wholehearted support for and many members of the senate. you are

mr. fugate say we look to the private-sector for partners. we want to not only look to the private sector for partners but i want to look to the private sector for better technologies, operations and efficiencies that we can of course incorporate into the government response and we thank you very much for your testimony today. we are anxious to hear your views and perspectives. next we will hear from armand mascelli vice president for operations at the american red cross. mr. mascelli is responsible for cord meeting red cross response to major domestic disasters for managing organizations disaster logistics' technology and human resource systems. i'm very interested i understand the red cross since katrina has gone through a major reorganization and we are looking forward to hearing some of the outcomes today. and finally, last but certainly not least this is janet durden, president of north west united way serves as coordinating council person for louisiana 211 but this is a nationwide emergency response system that i think can be very helpf

mr. fugate and we are going to move to the next panel and a minute. when you all did your assessment on the joint task force, one of the issues that came up for the sick that cans of particularly the coast. all of the coast have port assets that of course must be maintained on just for the benefit of the communities, but the nation's economy depends and in some measure you could say the world economy depends on the continued operations of these major ports many of them obviously if you start from houston and work your way up to new york or many major airports that can be affected and we saw when katrina hid one of the largest by volume port in the nation was shot down for a long period of time and the oil and gas operations of the gulf coast came precariously close. had rita hit houston, which it did not, it hit close to houston, it's very -- it was interesting as someone might want to write what could have happened to the price of oil and gas had both the port of new orleans and port of houston and almost all offshore operations at that point would h

mr. fugate good to see you, senator. out by to ask mr. fugate to begin the may ask senator burr i know you were just coming in, welcome, do want to make and a brief opening statement or should we go right to the panel? thank you. we're happy to have craig 85 with us the new administrator from fema and man who i gave my whole hearted support they give for the work to have done but we look forward to hearing from your administrator 35 because we have made progress there is a tremendous amount of work that has to be done we're looking to you for leadership and guidance and may i say migrate banks to nazi war who came in on the election of president obama and appointment of secretary janice napolitano step did in the interim and was immediately able to make a tremendous difference of improvement. i know you are happy with what she was able to do but i want to read knowledge that and thank you for being the formal an official director and look forward to your remarks. >> thank you, madam chairman, senator landrieu, there is always the first tim

mr. fugate, what are your top three priorities? i know you have many. but tucked forl if you could for this committee because we would like to work but, we're going to push and work but but push to get the very best systems we can. so what are your top three priorities as you're stepping in to an agency that has really been at the front line in many ways these last few years, how do you see your top three priorities? and i'm certain that you've discussed this with the secretary and with the highest levels of this administration. so would you outline that for us now? >> yes, ma'am. they're rather broad. they're easy to communicate, and they require a lot of moving pieces and they're very simple. increase the responsibility and participation of our citizens to prepare for disaster. i truly believe that far too many of us who do not get ready, to do not prepare, oftentimes put vulnerable citizens in jeopardy as we compete for those needed resources. and looking at these, i know that the more that those of us can be ready and prepared, the more successful t

mr. fugate to begin. let me ask senator burriss, i know you're just coming in and welcome. do you want to make any brief opening statement or should we go right to the panel? thank you. thank you, senator. we are happy to have craig fugate with us who is the new administrator from fema who i supported and many members of the senate, you are greatly experienced. we thank you for the work you've already done. but we're looking forward to hearing from you, because you know as i know that while we've made some progress there's a tremendous amount of work that has to be done and we're looking to you for leadership and guidance. and may i say before you start, my great thanks for nancy ward who came in on the election of president obama and the appointment of secretary of homeland security, janet nap ol tano stepped in the interrim and was able to make a tremendous improvement and i know you are happy with what she was able to do. but i wanted to acknowledge that and to thank you for now being the formal and official director and look forward to your remarks. >> thank you, madam

mr. fugate and the general who will be testifying today as well. let me say this hearing is focused on hurricane response because we started hurricane season and this week. but we will be examining issues that affect not just the hurricane region but all regions of the country. and we will be focusing on playpens and processes that actually have applicability across the board for many types of threats earth quakes come hurricanes, , etc. the ranking member and i represent states that have seen the large portions of our states major cities and a very important role areas devastated by recent hurricanes. 2004, 2005 and 2008 were particularly hard years for cities and communities throughout the gulf coast from florida to texas. the last century has been difficult for many, many states. i would like to put to the first chart up. these are the number of hurricanes that have hit in this particular region of the country which is the hurricane belts 1955 through 2005. the blue line is hurricane katrina which was the greatest among all of those storms depic

mr. fugate said, if it's your roof that's gone, it's not a small problem, you know, for you. but tell us again about the specifics of what you see benefit anything that legislation. >> the calling for 211 act, senator, is critical, and i think the first point is that only 90 percent of our -- 80 percent of our country has access to 211. there are 23 states in america that have 100 percent coverage as we are in louisiana -- 25 counting, including puerto rico. i think there's a map that shows that. >> if the map could be put up there. so the full coverage -- >> the full coverage is in green, and the 80 percent is dark blue. >> and then the red states are? >> the red states are where 211 is in development, and i think it's particularly concerning that there are gaps along our gulf coars coast all the way up to delaware. delaware, long island, new york, rural georgia, north carolina and the panhandle of florida are some of those areas where there are gaps, and that is of significance. another factor that this authorization bill would allow us is the telephony capacity to be conne

mr. fugate said if it is your roof that is gone it is not a small problem for you. but tell us again about the specifics of what you see benefitting in that legislation. >> the column for the 211 act is critical, and i think the first point is only 80% of the country has access to 211. there are 23 states in america that have 100% coverage as we are in louisianan. 25 counting puerto rico, i think there's a map that shows that. >> the map could be put out so the full coverage is -- >> the full coverage is in and green. >> and the red states are? >> weare 211 is in development and i think it is particularly concerned that there are gaps along the gulf coast all the way up to delaware, long island, new york, rural georgia, north carolina and panhandle of florida are some of the areas there are gaps and that is of significance. another factor that this authorization bill would allow was the telephony capacity to be connected. we are blessed in louisianan that there was donors that gave after katrina that enables us to have a voice over ip and then gives the opportunity

mr. craig fugate, and frank grass from missouri will be testifying today as well.let me say that this hearing is focused on her cane response because we snap started hurricane season this week, but we will be a salmon issues that affect not just the hurricane region but all regions of the country in this hearing today and we will be focusing on plans and processes that actually have applicability across the board from many different types of threats the its hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.. the ranking member and i both represent stains that have seen a large portions of our states, major cities and very important role in areas devastated by recent hurricanes. 2004, 2005, in 2008 were particularly hard years for cities and communities throughout the gulf coast from with florida to texas but the last century has been difficult for many states now like to put the first chart up there in a news of a number of hurricanes that is the hurricane belt from 1955 to 2005. and the blue line is very keen katrina -- hurricane katrina which was the greatest among all who the storms