Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator R. David Paulison, who took over after the devastating 2005 season that ravaged New Orleans, said his agency is now better prepared to handle disasters. Reminding residents that bags of ice would no longer be distributed after storms, Paulison said people need to take some “personal responsibility.”

“It takes a tremendous amount of resources, and it really doesn’t accomplish much, other than making people feel good because they have a bag of ice,” Paulison said. Paulison went on to say his agency is focusing on delivering essentials, such as food, water, cots, blankets, and tarps. “Ice is more of a comfort thing,” he said.

Shifting away from ice delivery will allow FEMA to dedicate more resources to disaster response, Paulison said. Paulison, who lives in South Florida but works in Washington, said people who still want ice should make it on their own before a storm makes landfall.

FEMA: No More Ice After Hurricanes (FOX News Tampa 5/22/08)

June 3, 2008