LITTLE ROCK – Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., has been appointed by the Biden administration to serve on the FEMA National Advisory Council, joining a group of leaders in emergency management from across the country who will make recommendations and provide advice to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.
 
As a member of National Advisory Council, Mayor Scott will advise Criswell and the FEMA team on every aspect of emergency management. That includes “preparedness, protection, response, recovery and mitigation for disasters and national emergencies,” according to FEMA.
 
“Little Rock residents have demonstrated their strength and resiliency repeatedly in the last few years, whether taking action to protect against COVID or recover and rebuild from historic floods, winter storm events and a devastating tornado,” Mayor Scott said. “Through this adversity, we have made excellence in emergency management one of the benchmarks of our service to residents. I’m proud to lead an exemplary team that prioritizes emergency preparedness and response.
 
“It’s an honor and privilege to be selected by Administrator Criswell and President Biden’s administration to take on this national leadership role,” the Mayor added.
 
Administrator Criswell was among the first federal government officials to visit Little Rock following the March 31, 2023, tornado that damaged nearly 3,000 structures in the state’s capital city. FEMA partnered with state and local agencies to quickly open up a Disaster Recovery Center to meet the needs of Little Rock residents.
 
Members of the National Advisory Council will offer recommendations on readiness, workforce, and climate resilience, according to FEMA. The council is made up of emergency managers, emergency responders, and subject matter experts from local, state, territorial and tribal governments, the private sector and nongovernmental organizations.
 
“The National Advisory Council is charged with making recommendations to improve FEMA’s programs and services," Administrator Criswell said. “Having a Council that has a diversity of expertise and experiences ensures we are serving disaster survivors and communities as effectively as possible.”
 
Mayor Scott is in his second four-year term as Little Rock mayor, and he is the immediate past president of the African American Mayors Association.