Mark Begich

To minimize loss, we must take a proactive approach when dealing with natural catastrophes.

Can you tell me, is FEMA at this point now fully staffed and organized to really move forward on a sustainable relationship with tribes, not only in Alaska but throughout the Country?

The new authorities granted to tribes through the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act allow for major disaster declarations to be made directly to the President without having to go through governors.

In recognizing the challenges of tribal communities as they prepare, respond to and recover from various disasters requires collaboration and cooperation.

Very good. So you found that beneficial?

So, that is basically saying you can then analyze did they perform to what we believed was their qualification.

My goal is that every survivor in this country gets the same service, whether they are in remote Alaska or whether they are in downtown Los Angeles.

Let me just say, I had a small disaster in my house in Anchorage and the insurance company made sure I closed it out.

I think it is great you are looking at this.

I think the Senate, to be very frank with you, does not do enough.

What we are really talking about is putting the risk back to the States that have the highest risk.

Can you tell me, is there something that you could do--and when I say 'you,' your agency--do to make that more transparent?

I want to go back to one other part you brought up and that is the workforce.

I kind of ask you this and maybe, Joseph, you can answer this, too--is there an opportunity to have a hybrid partnership, maybe that between local governments or State governments to utilize these kind of bonds in conjunction with disaster…

As a former mayor, a city of 300,000 people, a billion-dollar budget, we covered 1,900 square miles of city, if there is no incentive, I am going to keep that on the books, because--there are a lot of reasons why I will keep it on the…

I think we ought to be a little more aggressive in ensuring that they are looking at these projects.

Is there something more we could be doing, or FEMA could be doing, and, it is always hard when you have a community who has this money sitting there to say, you have not used it in 15 years.

Do you think there is a formula that should be looked at instead of a one-size-fits-all?

The IG got right in there to make sure you had the right language.

Come to Alaska. We have one every week, it seems.

Because the disasters are bigger, or that is what we are doing?

I think they create quite a bit of potential for both States and local governments to be able to access money to help them rebuild or deal with a disaster response.

OK, because it is an obvious thing what happens, is we hear from people and they go, 15 years, that money has been sitting there.

If I give it back, I will never see it again.

At some point, you have to close them out.