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Save the Children Selected for FEMA National Advisory Council
Washington, DC (January 14, 2008) – Mark K. Shriver, Save the Children's Vice President and Managing Director of US Programs has been appointed to serve on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) National Advisory Council. The appointment marks the first time that a child-focused organization will be represented on the 32-person council, which was created following Hurricane Katrina to advise the FEMA Administrator on ways to improve federal emergency preparedness, response and recovery efforts.
"Too often the unique needs of children are forgotten during emergencies," said Shriver. "As disaster-impacted communities struggle to rebuild roads and restore water and sewer services, the need to reinstate child care programs, ensure adequate supplies of pediatric medical and mental health services and rebuild safe playgrounds can fall by the wayside, but services such as these are critical to our children. As a member of this Council, I hope to raise awareness about how federal emergency plans should better serve America's children."
Shriver will serve a three-year term on the council alongside emergency managers, response providers and other officials from local, state and Tribal governments as well as members of the private sector and nongovernmental organizations. The council provides FEMA with input on the development and revision of federal preparedness goals, the national preparedness system and emergency response, recovery and mitigation plans.
Since Hurricane Katrina, Save the Children's Domestic Emergencies Unit has been partnering with organizations involved in emergency relief and advocacy to ensure that children are a priority in disaster preparedness, response and recovery. When large-scale emergencies occur, Save the Children is there, providing programs to assist children impacted by the disaster and supporting the recovery of infrastructure on which children depend.
