The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently announced the creation of its new Office of Emergency Response and Recovery.
GSA’s Office of Emergency Response and Recovery (OERR) will leverage all the resources within GSA in one central office and provide a new level of support and assistance to first responders, emergency workers and recovery teams. The change means those assets will be specifically organized to respond to national emergencies, according to the GSA.
The GSA Order also abolishes the agency’s Office of Emergency Management and transfers its functions to OERR. Some of the duties of those divisions include developing agency-wide disaster readiness, implementing disaster plans and integrating emergency historic preservation requirements in response and recovery plans, according to the GSA. As an interim measure, GSA Chief of Staff John Phelps will also serve as Acting Chief of Emergency Response and Recovery Officer. Mr. Phelps has served as GSA’s Chief of Staff since July 3.
GSA administrator Lurita Doan signed Order ADM 5440.599 on Nov. 1, creating the new office. Established in GSA’s Central Office in Washington, D.C., OERR is headed by the Chief of Emergency Response and Recovery Officer who reports to the Administrator through the Chief of Staff. OERR consists of the Policy and Plans Division, Training and Exercise Division, Disaster Support Division, Communications and Security Division, and the Historic Preservation Team.
