Sept. 8, 2005 – Against the backdrop of receding, polluted floodwater, oil and natural gas leaks, random fires, an uncountable number of dead and a concerted effort to evacuate people remaining in New Orleans, the federal agency in charge of disaster relief sent out a call for thousands of firefighters -- not to conduct search and rescue or firefighting duties, but to participate in public relations efforts for the agency.
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The first FEMA request for firefighters reportedly specified that the request was for community relations workers. Issued on August 31, after Hurricane Katrina's devastating impact became obvious, that request and a subsequent one two days later have been replaced by a notice stating that too many firefighters had registered and that FEMA was no longer accepting applicants.
According to FEMA, over 4,000 firefighters have been accepted into the program. The two-person teams must attend training prior to deployment. The Agency noted that public relations workers are hired during every disaster. Firefighters were specifically chosen this time as they have already passed mandatory background checks, FEMA said.
Friday, FEMA issued a second call for 1,000 two-person teams to fill out the community outreach force. The request clarified that the work is "non-operational community-relations-focused activities" and involves explaining the disaster relief, information distribution, taking reports and "minimal first aid."
Tuesday, the Salt Lake Tribune reported that a number of firefighters attending one training session expressed anger at being asked to perform tasks that did not utilize their skills while several dozen fires burned in New Orleans and search and rescue operations continued. Several of the attendees removed or turned their FEMA shirts inside out in protest, though none expressed any desire to leave.
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Fifty of the advance firefighter-cum-media specialists participated in the presidential landing spectacle, the Tribune reported.
