Gov. Fallin Leads Discussion on Disaster Response in Meeting With U.S. Homeland Security Secretary

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 -- Gov. Mary Fallin, R-Oklahoma, issued the following news release:

Governor Mary Fallin today led discussion on disaster response in a meeting of the Council of Governors with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen at the Pentagon.

"In Oklahoma, we are subject to a lot of severe weather like tornadoes, ice storms and flooding, and events, such as recent wildfires," said Fallin, who is co-chair of the Council of Governors. "By meetings such as this, we can all learn from each other how to better prepare for and recover from natural catastrophes."

Also taking part in today's discussion were officials from the White House and the Department of Defense, as well as Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator (FEMA) Brock Long and U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Paul F. Zukunft.

"We discussed how the federal partners can better work with the states to ensure a clear and efficient process for disaster response and coordination with FEMA, especially in large-scale relief efforts involving multiple states as was seen with Hurricanes Harvey and Irma," Fallin said.

In addition to talking about a collective response to natural disasters, the group discussed protecting the American people from threats, including terrorism and cyberattacks.

"First responders and state officials are often the first line of defense when it comes to keeping our communities safe," Nielsen said. "Whether it is a cyber intrusion, natural disaster, or a terrorist incident, we are fortunate to have strong state partners to help protect Americans from these dangers. I thank them for their leadership and commitment."

President Donald J. Trump in May named Fallin co-chair of the Council of Governors. She is among 10 to serve on the bipartisan national council, which focuses on effective collaborative efforts between the federal and state governments on issues related to the National Guard, homeland security, and disaster response.

Fallin is in Washington, D.C., to attend meetings of the Council of Governors and the National Governors Association.