1487 Counter terrorism concerns and natural disasters

A working paper #104 published in 2000 by the Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center Institute of Behavioral Science (University of Colorado) "Emergency Management in the 21st Century: Coping with Bill Gates, Osama bin-Laden, and Hurricane Mitch" expressed concern that Counter Terrorism preoccupation with Osama Bin Laden was hurting the federal government's ability to respond to natural disasters.

"Does current preoccupation with C-T significantly harm natural and industrial disaster preparedness and response capacity? It remains to be seen if the two main federal response plans (the Federal Response Plan and the National Contingency Plan) can carry the new load of responsibilities inherent in a major C-T response. My own observation is that staff at FEMA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been pulled off work dealing with natural and industrial hazards/disasters in order to meet C-T planning needs. I presume the same is true at state and local levels too. In this regard, an important question is: Is the current emphasis on C-T changing the EM landscape temporarily or for good?"

That paper has been updated in August 2004 to #108 and is retitled: "Emergency Management in the 21st Century: Dealing with Al Qaeda, Tom Ridge, and Julie Gerberding." It describes all the new agencies and plans put in place after 9/11. It suggests our government's superior ability to put together workshops and maintain leadership with even more education and studies.

So the shift to counter terrorism and away from natural disaster preparedness started before the Bush Administration? Does Congress know?