State official disputes legislators’ accusations

Thursday, Dec. 20, 2001 | 9:55 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The head of the state Division of Emergency Management today disputed criticism from key legislators that his agency misspent money and dropped the ball by failing to adopt emergency regulations for four years.

Division Chief Frank Siracusa sent letters to Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, answering their claims the agency hasn't developed regulations on how to administer a $500,000 account that was set aside for state and local governments to use in emergencies.

Perkins was critical of the use of $16,118 for hiring a public information officer and of an expenditure of $1,059 for meals for staff.

Siracusa said the employment of the new position was necessary to dispense information to residents concerned about the Fallon leukemia crisis. "As you know, a critical element in any emergency situation is to dispel rumors and panic that normally occur," he said in justifying the expenditure.

The meal money was spent for sandwiches for the staff assigned to the Emergency Operations Center during the Y2K threat on New Year's Eve 2000. Siracusa said the staff was required to remain at the center from 4 p.m. to midnight. "These meals cost less than the allowable $14 state per diem rate for dinner and, therefore, resulted in a savings of approximately $400 to the state."

The emergency fund was created in 1997 by the Legislature. Perkins and Raggio said there have not been any permanent regulations adopted to guide governments on how to gain access to the money.

Siracusa said the fund was switched to his agency in 1999 and regulations were developed within six months. Those regulations, although they have not been approved by the Legislature, have been followed in approving any grants to local or state agencies.

"These regulations require an applicant to provide proof of an emergency or disaster that affects life, health or property and certify that all other resources have been exhausted," said Siracusa.

He expects to submit the permanent regulations to the Legislature for approval by the end of this year.

Siracusa was not at the Interim Finance Committee earlier this month where the criticism was levied. He said he was at the Governor's Conference on School Safety in Las Vegas.

Raggio said he wanted Siracusa at the next meeting to give the finance committee an explanation. And Siracusa said today he would be there to "clarify these issues for you."