MEMORANDUM TO MICHAEL CHERTOFF, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FROM MICHAEL D. BROWN, UNDER SECRETARY

by Michael D. Brown

PDF Document (Transcribed from the PDF document by Tara Carreon, american-buddha.com)

Office of the Under Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
500 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472

U.S. Department of Homeland Security FEMA

August 29, 2005

MEMORANDUM TO: Michael Chertoff
Secretary of Homeland Security

FROM: Michael D. Brown
Under Secretary

SUBJECT: DHS Response to Katrina

We are requesting your assistance to make available DHS employees willing to deploy as soon as possible for a two-week minimum field assignment to serve in a variety of positions. We anticipate needing at least 1000 additional DHS employees within 48 hours and 2000 within 7 days. Attached is a list of requirements that employees will have to meet before deploying.

It is beneficial to use DHS employees as it allows us to be more efficient responding to the needs of this disaster and it reinforces the Department's All-Hazard's Capabilities. Also, DHS employees already have background investigations, travel cards and badges, all items that normally delay filling our surge workforce. FEMA Response and Recovery operations are a top priority of the Department and as we know, one of yours.

We will also want to identify staff with specialized skills such as bilingual capabilities, Commercial Driver's License (CDS), and logistics capabilities.

Thank you for your consideration in helping us to meet our responsibilities in this near catastrophic event.

Attachment

cc: Michael P. Jackson
Deputy Secretary

Janet Hale
Under Secretary for Management

Attachment

Requirements:

You must have your supervisor's approval.
Contact your Human Resource Office to follow-up with FEMA Human Resource Office
You must be physically able to work in a disaster area without refrigeration for meditations and have the ability to work in the outdoors all day.
Must be willing to work long hours under arduous conditions.

Role of Assigned Personnel:

Establish and maintain positive working relationships with disaster affected communities and the citizens of those communities.
Collect and disseminate information and make referrals for appropriate assistance.
Identification of potential issues within the community and reporting to appropriate personnel.
Convey a positive image of disaster operations to government officials, community organizations and the general public.
Perform outreach with community leaders on available Federal disaster assistance.

Training will be provided:

A roster of available personnel will be developed and made available as components identify personnel for deployment.
Selected personnel from the roster will be given training in Emmitsburg, Maryland, Atlanta, Georgia and Orlando, Florida, before you are deployed to the field.
You will be expected to use government credit cards (in good standing) for transportation, lodging, meals and other incidentals.
Contact your agency financial officer for information on obtaining government credit card (if you do not hold one).

Point of Contact to accept and process your assignment:

Human Resource Operations Branch, 202-646-4040
You will be walked through the system for further processing and deployment.

Deployment Information:

Selected personnel will either go to Atlanta, Georgia for Community Relations Training or Orlando, Florida for all other Training and assignments. After which they will be deployed to a disaster Joint Field Office (FCO) when conditions are safe. Some organizational clothing and equipment will be supplied.

Type of personal supplies you should bring:

Sunscreen
Sun hat
Sun Glasses
Walking shoes
Mosquito repellant
Medication (both over the counter and prescriptions)
Valid driver's license
Government ID
Cash (ATMs may not be working)
Government equipment (cell phones, computers, blackberries, etc)
Appropriate clothing (walking shorts acceptable)
Rain gear

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American Buddha Librarian's Comment:

WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?  THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING?  What, he's going to hire new recruits, train them, and send them in after it's safe; meanwhile, ignore all the already-trained national guards all around the country who want to help?  THIS IS VERY, VERY BAD!  THIS GUY DESERVES LIFE IN PRISON ALONG WITH ALL HIS BOSSES!

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