FEMA program. "...nearly $1 million will be set aside for Public Disaster Communications. FEMA will assume a leadership position as coordinator of all hazards messaging to the American public during peacetime and disasters, leading the national campaign for greater personal and community preparedness. Specifically, the funding requested will support FEMA's efforts to strengthen interagency incident communications systems and capabilities to ensure coordinated public information efforts across all hazards. By working oneon- one with State, local, and major urban area jurisdictions to build knowledge and capability for public information efforts and conducting planning, training, and exercises to ensure integrated crisis communication strategies and messaging FEMA will facilitate public discourse, outreach, and adoption of a national culture of personal preparedness and mitigation that will have a direct impact on reducing the loss of life and property. Through effective public communications and outreach programs, FEMA will ensure the general public is provided with and has access to vital disaster preparedness and planning information including those with special needs and multilingual and multicultural populations". (FEMA, Opening Statement of Paulison, House Appropriations HS Subcommittee, March 9, 2007, p. 17)