With Acting FEMA Director David Paulison at his side, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff promised a host of changes to FEMA so the agency can better respond during the 2006 hurricane season, which begins June 1.

In remarks delivered at the National Hurricane Conference in Orlando, Fl, Chertoff stated the following:

Our goal is to make FEMA stronger and provide FEMA with the 21st century tools and resources it needs to meet the challenges of today. Before hurricane season, we're... going to strengthen FEMA across a number of areas, including logistics, claims processing for disaster victims, debris removal, procurement, and emergency communications.

Chertoff then went on to address only logistics, debris removal, and contracting in more detail.

Certainly these are important components of an effective emergency response, but Chertoff's silence on effective emergency communications speaks volumes about the federal government's commitment to solving the emergency communications crisis. For example:

-SAFECOM's "National Interoperability Baseline Survey," which was supposed to be completed by the end of 2005, won't be released until September 2006 - four months into the 2006 hurricane season.

-The President's proposed FY07 budget threatens to significantly decrease or completely eliminate funding for several programs that first responders have relied on to buy technology and interoperable communications equipment.

The Feds can do better, and emergency responders deserve better. If the government had truly "learned its lesson" from the Katrina tragedy, policymakers would realize that first responders are only able to protect our communities when they are properly equipped, appropriately trained and adequately funded.