One week after D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray told lawmakers that the scheduling policies of the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department could make it difficult for “desperately needed” rescue workers to get into the District during a catastrophe, city officials scrambled Monday to reassure the public that the city is prepared.

“I have no doubt in my mind that we can respond,” Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Paul Quander told The Washington Examiner. “Would we better able if more of our firefighters lived closer to the District of Columbia? Yes.”