Anniston Star
January 27, 2003

Baughman set to take control of state EMA

By Amy Sieckmann
Star Staff Writer
01-27-2003

On the desk of the senior federal official in charge of helping disaster-struck communities lies the budget that officials say local residents need to protect them from the chemical weapons stored in Anniston.

The senior federal official has never seen or heard the justifications behind those numbers ­ the specific protections for every man, woman and child in Anniston and the surrounding community.

That will change soon.

Bruce Baughman, the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Office of National Preparedness, will start his job as head of Alabama's Emergency Management Agency in the coming weeks. The job change means more than just a move from Washington, D.C., to the heart of Dixie. It means Baughman, who is used to seeing only dollar signs from the officials trying to protect local citizens will now be in charge of ensuring they and everyone else in the surrounding six communities are safe.

Local and state emergency management officials said they were happy with Gov. Bob Riley's choice to head the state agency, but some expressed skepticism about having the man they once begged for money as their boss.

"I respect Gov. Riley's choice for leading the Alabama EMA," said Mike Burney, director of Calhoun County's EMA. "I also expect that Mr. Baughman's experience with FEMA will be an asset to local emergency management. His success will depend on his ability to apply his experience in getting things done down here where the rubber meets the road."

Baughman sees his federal work experience as a positive thing, yet he is hesitant to express what he thinks should be done to protect local residents.

"I have not personally talked with county and city officials and talked through their issues and concerns," he said. "I need to sit down and go over it (the budget) with them before I say it is reasonable or unreasonable."

Baughman also declined to say whether he thought the community was prepared for the weapons incineration or if the process should begin on schedule. But once in Alabama, Baughman said he plans to give Riley plenty of feedback on how the community feels and if he thinks the Army should go ahead with the burn.

What makes state EMA officials optimistic about Baughman is his record.

Before joining FEMA, Baughman served in the military and as head of Mississippi's EMA. This has won him accolades from area EMA officials who haven't even met him.

Talladega's EMA director Nelson Bates, who has been in his position for two-weeks and is a former Army National Guardsman said he has heard good things about Baughman and has confidence his military background means he is a good leader.

Baughman also has a strong record of helping people when the worst arrives, said Lee Helms, the former head of Alabama's EMA. Helms said he has known Baughman for 20 years and worked extensively with him in the 1980s when several natural disasters hit Alabama.

"Everything seemed to nail us for a while," Helms said. "He was good helping us implement (FEMA's) program. He helped develop the policy and procedures for disaster and recovery programs at the time, and he was the one training us and working with us."

Helms said he is sure Baughman can make the switch from FEMA insider to state leader.

"He's been in just about every level of EMA business, from preparation to response and recovery, and now even homeland security," Helms said. "I think he is well prepared to lead us. What he will help is to bring a better understanding on how (preparing Anniston-area residents) has to be dealt with on the national level. Many of us at the state level have worked with Washington, but this is going to be like having them on our side."

One FEMA colleague of Baughman's Craig Conklin said the new EMA head characteristically puts priorities on communicating clearly and listening to all parties before drawing conclusions. Baughman expects the staff to do their homework but then lets them do their jobs without micro-managing the process, Conklin said.

Baughman said he already has a couple of ideas for helping the state's EMA.

He plans to enter the state in a pilot program this year in which a national assessment team made up of EMA officials from across the country analyze Alabama's EMA. State EMA officials said they liked the idea.

But until Baughman gets his feet wet in Anniston, Burney will remain cautiously optimistic about the change.

"You have to work on the local level and actually apply these resources. Until then you don't understand what is required."