Mitt Romney’s position on FEMA is disastrous
By Jenny Wilson
“Each summer, while most Utahns are enjoying family picnics and trips to Lagoon, others live in fear for property loss, or even the loss of loved ones, due to fire. Indeed, last season’s raging Brian Head fire in Iron County cost more than $30 million and burned more than 71,000 acres. The Dollar Ridge fire has been the most expensive fire in our state so far this year and has already topped $16.1 million in cost — a bill which much be tallied and divvied up between the state and the federal agencies that provide support and emergency relief, like the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.
Just this week, on Pioneer Day, many Salt Lake residents jumped to action to protect their property while firefighters fought back a massive foothill fire. I was one of those on site when my mother’s own home was directly threatened by the fire, and it was terrifying. Due to the Salt Lake City Fire Department’s quick response and amazing firefighters, no significant damage was done, and within 90 minutes, people were able to go back to their celebrations and picnics, not forgetting how vulnerable we truly are in this state. The families in Moab who lost their homes earlier this year are still grieving and working through their losses.
For this reason, I was astounded to learn of my opponent Mitt Romney’s position to eliminate our national disaster program, FEMA. In a presidential debate hosted by CNN in 2012, when asked if FEMA should be eliminated and the responsibility turned over to the states, Romney replied, “Absolutely. Every time you have an occasion to take something from the federal government and send it back to the states, that’s the right direction. And if you can go even further and send it back to the private sector, that’s even better.”
This position should give Utahns deep pause. As a former board member of the Unified Fire Authority, Salt Lake County’s largest fire agency, I am alarmed at this answer. On July 2, FEMA authorized use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Dollar Ridge Fire in Wasatch and Duchesne Counties. The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75- percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating, and controlling designated fires. This funding will help pay for expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools, materials and supplies used by firefighting teams on the ground.
In 2012, ironically the same year Mitt suggested privatizing disaster relief, when the Laub Dam in Washington County broke, Gov. Herbert declared Utah to be in a state of emergency and requested federal funding to help. Having federal funding that assists with state funding is critical to maintaining the infrastructure within our state.
Mitt Romney does not understand the unique needs of Utah. Serving as a governor of an east coast state does not present the same difficult decisions and competency as our western landscapes demand. Utah relies on FEMA for earthquake, flood, fire, and storm preparedness and assistance. Cutting its funding would put Utah families at significant risk.
Jenny Wilson is a candidate for U.S. Senate.
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