Rich Serino, deputy administrator of FEMA, at the podium in Boston. (Photo courtesy of FEMA/Dennis Pinkham)

Rich Serino, deputy administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), recently spoke at a conference in Boston titled "Rebuilding Sustainable Communities with the Elderly and Disabled People after Disasters," presented in partnership with the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

The international conference focused on the importance of addressing the needs of the entire community in recovery and rebuilding efforts post-disaster.

"FEMA is just one part of the entire national emergency response team, which includes the entire federal family, the private sector, faith-based, academic and other nonprofit organizations, and especially the public," Serino said. "Only by engaging all members of our team, and planning for the entire community, can our team be successful."

The event provided an opportunity to reach out to stakeholders and to hear from academics and students about what communities can do before, during, and after a disaster to respond and recover more effectively, Serino said. He brings 35 years of state and local emergency management and emergency medical services experience to his position at FEMA. Prior to his appointment as deputy administrator, Serino served as chief of Boston Emergency Medical Services and assistant director of the Boston Public Health Commission. 

The conference included other speakers from FEMA, including Marcie Roth, senior advisory on disability Issues, and multiple division directors and experts from FEMA's Region I office in Boston. They participated in panel discussions on topics such as providing comfort and support to elderly and disabled people in response and recovery, and mitigating natural hazards risks facing the elderly and special needs populations.

The gathering was held days before the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act--on July 26.

FEMA is charged with supporting citizens and first responders to ensure that, as a nation, we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

[Source: FEMA. Head shot of Rich Serino: Courtesy of FEMA/Bill Koplitz]

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