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Senate Democrats Call for More ‘Independent’ Storm Response Task Force

February 3rd, 2014

Following a snowstorm last week, which stranded large numbers of motorists and a number of school children, Gov. Deal announced Monday he will create a more than 25-person task force to help make sure a similar situation does not occur in the future. The task force is made up meteorologists, school leaders, lawmakers and state department heads, including the Georgia Department of Emergency Management. The state also wants to start an alert system similar to “Amber alerts” to help residents know when there is severe weather. The state also plans to update Georgia’s emergency weather app.

Senate Democrats say they’re glad the task force will examine the state’s severe weather response and there is some bipartisan representation. But Senate Minority Leader Steve Henson said the task force should have been created by the legislature rather than Gov. Deal.

“I think it would have been better if he had chose to include others to move this process forward, so the appearance of openness would be better.”

Senate Minority Whip Vincent Fort said Senate Democrats are concerned the task force won’t critically analyze issues from the most recent storm and past storms. He says one of the main issues is leadership.

“Last Tuesday, the governor had his emergency preparedness exam and he failed it. If a commission could make sure that doesn’t happen again that’s what we need.”

Democrats said the task force also needs to look at transportation infrastructure in metro Atlanta.

Last week, Governor Deal apologized for the state’s response and Charlie English, the head of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency said he did not notify Deal soon enough. On Monday, Deal defended English. Deal said, “He openly acknowledged he made a mistake.” Deal went on to say, “I think that most of us in our lives have made a mistake, probably not as obvious as maybe this one, but he is conducting himself as I would expect him.”