STATEMENTS BY DHS SECRETARY NAPOLITANO AND HUD SECRETARY DONOVAN ON TODAY'S DISASTER RECOVERY STAKEHOLDER FORUM IN SALT LAKE CITY

SALT LAKE CITY - The Long Term Disaster Recovery Working Group held its fourth of five planned stakeholder forums today in Salt Lake City-designed to encourage stakeholders to provide direct input and ideas for disaster recovery.

The Working Group—co-chaired by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan—is a high-level, strategic initiative that will recommend future improvements and help inform and develop a National Disaster Recovery Framework to provide operational guidance for recovery organizations.

"We are committed to ensuring a more resilient nation in which individuals, communities and the economy can adapt to changing conditions and rapidly recover from disasters of all kinds," said Secretary Napolitano. "These forums are providing valuable input and feedback to strengthen our disaster recovery capabilities nationwide."

"The stakeholder meetings ensure that the vital voices of disaster recovery professionals and stakeholders are heard as we move forward to improve disaster recovery efforts," said Secretary Donovan. "It allows those on the ground to tell us what works and what doesn't in responding to natural disasters."

Secretary Napolitano and Secretary Donovan yesterday continued the ongoing work of the interagency Working Group at a White House briefing with senior officials from more than 20 agencies. The Working Group discussed methods and objectives, stressing the importance of engaging stakeholders in a comprehensive review and assessment of disaster recovery capabilities in order to provide strong recommendations.

The Working Group previously met with stakeholders to gather input and ideas in Los Angeles on Tuesday, New York City on Nov. 10 and New Orleans on Nov. 4.

The public is also encouraged to visit DisasterRecoveryWorkingGroup.gov (www.disasterrecoveryworkinggroup.gov/) to provide input on the same 16 specific questions posed to stakeholders at today's Working Group meeting. The Web site, launched in October, provides more information about the Working Group's initiatives and upcoming stakeholder meeting in Memphis on Nov. 23.

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