Fighting Back
In troubled times such as these one of the biggest problems for many people is a feeling of powerlessness as we face a much stronger opponent. In lieu of my usual article, I’d like to offer two options for making our collective voices heard.
The first is an email I just received from my colleague, Edie Schaffer, in which she calls for the International Association of Emergency Managers to enforce its Code of Conduct. Edie writes:
I am reaching out to ask you, as a current or former member of the International Association of Emergency Managers-USA Council (IAEM-USA), or as someone who has achieved the CEM® or AEM® credential from IAEM, to join me in signing a petition to the Board of Directors of IAEM-USA. The petition calls on the IAEM-USA Board to protect our profession by making it clear that emergency managers in the United States who assist in detaining people perceived to be immigrants are acting outside the scope of the profession and may be disciplined.
Over the past months, we have seen a growing number of emergency management agencies actively assisting federal immigration officials in establishing and operating detention centers for immigrants. These actions violate IAEM-USA’s Professional Code of Conduct, which provides that:
- Emergency managers must “[s]erve communities with dedication, fairness, and impartiality";
- IAEM-USA “does not tolerate discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, or other protected characteristics"; and
- Emergency managers must “[t]reat . . . the public with dignity and respect."
Yet, despite the apparent violations of its Code of Conduct by emergency managers who participate in detaining persons perceived to be immigrants, IAEM-USA has taken no action.
The petition calls on the IAEM-USA Board of Directors to take the following steps:
- Issue a clear public statement clarifying the role of emergency managers in the United States and condemning the participation of emergency managers in detaining persons perceived to be immigrants.
- Hold those who have violated the current Code of Conduct accountable by revoking their Certified Emergency Manager (CEM®) or Associate Emergency Manager (AEM®) credentials of those who participate in an official capacity in depriving members of their community of their rights.
- Update the Code of Conduct to make it clear that emergency managers who participate in an official capacity in depriving members of their community of their rights violate the Code and may be disciplined as a result.
- Keep members of the profession informed on a regular basis as to the steps IAEM-USA is taking to address this issue.
I hope you will join me in signing the petition, which is here: https://forms.gle/A8czpL8iyQAyZw66A
I also encourage you to share the link to the petition with colleagues you trust who are either current or former members of IAEM-USA, or who have earned the AEM or CEM credential.
Even if you are not a member of IAEM, the actions that Edie describes also violate the Foundational Tennents our recently adopted Code of Ethics and Professional Standards of Conduct for Emergency Managers Professionals. You can find a copy on my website at https://luciencanton.com/?page_id=293. If we are ever to truly become a profession, enforceable ethical standards are essential. I encourage you to review and sign the petition. You do not have to be a member of IAEM to sign the petition.
The second option is to support the recent action by a group of FEMA employees who recently sent a letter to Congress stating that the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA) “… introduced safeguards to ensure the shortcomings of disaster preparation and response would not be repeated. However, two decades later, FEMA is enacting processes and leadership structures that echo the conditions PKEMRA was designed to prevent” (see the full document at https://www.standupforscience.net/fema-katrina-declaration ).
The letter identifies six “Statements of Opposition” that the signatories oppose:
- The reduction in capability of FEMA to perform its missions.
- The ongoing failure to appoint a qualified FEMA administrator, as required by law.
- The elimination of life- and cost-saving risk reduction programs.
- Interference with preparedness programs that build capacity for state, local, tribal, and territorial partners.
- The censorship of climate science, environmental protection, and efforts to ensure all communities have access to information, resources, and support.
- The reduction of FEMA’s disaster workforce.
Further, the signatories petition Congress to:
- Establish FEMA as a cabinet-level independent agency in the executive branch.
- Defend the agency from further interference from DHS, including illegal impoundments of appropriated funding; ensuring FEMA retains its full authority, responsibilities, functions, and capabilities to perform its missions.
- Protect FEMA employees from politically motivated firings and ensure continued protection under merit-based personnel systems.
- Demand transparency from OMB, DOGE, and FEMA leadership regarding internal employment policies and future agency reductions.
Given the current political climate, this is an incredible act of bravery on the part of the 191 signatories, particularly the 36 who have allowed their names to be used. I encourage you to read their petition and to add your name to their Statement of Solidarity and Support https://www.standupforscience.net/katrina-declaration-support-statement.
These may seem like small steps that may have little impact, but I assure you that unless we make our voices heard, nothing will change for the better.