FEMA Administrator Appoints Alaskan to National Advisory Council

FEMA Administrator Appoints Alaskan to National Advisory Council

Will Give Alaska Natives Another Voice in Planning for Natural Disasters

U.S. Senator Mark Begich applauded Tuesday’s announcement that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate appointed James Akerelrea of the Scammon Bay Traditional Council to the FEMA National Advisory Council (NAC). 

“This appointment will help make sure Alaska Natives are a key partner with FEMA in planning for natural disasters,” said Begich. “In my role as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Management, I am encouraged to have a partner in James Akerelrea to make sure FEMA is listening and coordinating with Alaska tribes.”

More about FEMA’s National Advisory Council:

The NAC is an advisory committee established by federal law to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of federal emergency management activities.  Members represent the whole community and include representatives from a wide array of backgrounds and communities involved or affected by the emergency management profession.  The NAC consists of up to 35 members.  In total FEMA appointed twelve new members and reappointed two current members to FEMA’s NAC.

The NAC provides recommendations to the FEMA Administrator on a variety of issues within emergency management.  For example, the NAC recently made recommendations regarding regional response and recovery capabilities as well as regarding mutual aid agreements among different units of government.

Additional information on the National Advisory Council, including a full list of members, is available at www.fema.gov/national-advisory-council.

For more information on Begich role as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations and the District of Columbia, which has oversight of FEMA please visit his Senate website.

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