KUA Announces Hurricane Response Review

Former FEMA director to conduct an exhaustive independent assessment of the utility's emergency preparedness for and response to Hurricane Charley.

KISSIMMEE, FL (PRWEB) August 29, 2004 -- Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA) announced today that it has hired the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct an exhaustive independent assessment of the utility's emergency preparedness for and response to Hurricane Charley.

James Lee Witt Associates of Washington, DC will review and audit KUA's plans of operation, customer communication programs and emergency procedures and provide an after-action critique of the utility's performance. The team of experts, most of whom are former executives from FEMA, will also assist KUA with the complex recovery process including damage surveys, applications and the strict documentation of damages.

"Independent reviews are important because they show that there are no pre-conceived conclusions or ideas," said KUA president and general manager Jim Welsh. "Our customers deserve the best disaster response possible and we believe this audit will provide a blueprint for improvement."

Hurricane Charley battered Osceola County on August 13, leaving 100 percent of KUA customers without electricity. A portion of those residents remained without power for up to two weeks.

Founded in 1901, KUA (www.kua.com) is Florida's sixth largest community-owned utility providing electric service to 58,000 customers in Osceola County.