The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, was created to solve a dire need in America. Disasters, unfortunately, happen all the time, and we as a country need to be prepared to handle them and have a system in place to provide relief after the fact. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, a series of disasters struck the nation and those in charge realized that America was poorly suited to help. In 1964, the second most powerful earthquake ever recorded hit Alaska, killing 139 (Taylor). The Midwest was plagued with lethal tornados, the Pacific Northwest experienced record-breaking snowstorms, and hurricanes killed thousands along the Atlantic coast. Over 100 different federal agencies were involved in relief for these tragedies, but their efforts
were largely unorganized and ineffective (“A Short History of FEMA”). In 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed an executive order that created FEMA, a unified disaster preparation and relief agency (United States).

FEMA is a large, complicated, and well-oiled machine, employing almost 15,000 people (United States). It is headed by administrator William Craig Fugate, who served for many years as the Emergency Manager for the state of Florida. Under Fugate is deputy administrator Joseph Nimmich and chief of staff Michael Coen Jr (United States). There are several main offices within FEMA, including the Office of Equal Rights, Office of Disability Integration and Coordination, and many more. However, the two most important parts of FEMA are the departments related to disaster preparation and response. Timothy Manning heads the Protection and National Preparedness Office while Elizabeth Zimmerman is the administrator of the Office of Response and Recovery (United States). These two offices most closely serve FEMA’s mission. According to the official FEMA website, the mission of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is “to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards” (United States).

In 2003, as part of the Homeland Security Act, FEMA became part of the newly created Department of Homeland Security (“A Short History of FEMA”).
Many of FEMA’s resources were relocated and a major part of FEMA’s mission became focused on the prevention of terrorism after 9/11. In 2006, Bush signed the Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act, which brought new life to FEMA (Wrede). Today, FEMA is more important than ever. This organization provides aid in the event of a large-scale catastrophe, whether it’s a natural disaster or a man-made one, like oils spills or nuclear reactor leakages. FEMA will provide temporary housing for those people in danger, it will provide medical assistance, and aid in the rebuilding and recovery process. FEMA can even help restore mobile communications with their fleet of MERS, or Mobile Emergency Response Support, vehicles (U.S. Department of Homeland Security). In recent years, FEMA has been on the site after tragedies like Hurricane Sandy and the Joplin, Missouri
tornado.

However, in order for FEMA to take action, the president must declare the situation a “Major Disaster.” In the event of a disaster, first local authorities step in to provide aid and relief to the victims. If things are serious, local authorities can go to the state for assistance. The state then responds with its resources, including the National Guard and state agencies and performs a damage assessment. If deemed necessary, the governor of that state requests a Major Disaster Declaration (DHS). Either FEMA headquarters or one of FEMA’s 10 regional offices evaluates the request before sending it to the President. If the President approves the request, he or she declares a Major Disaster and FEMA can aid those in trouble. Depending on the severity of the situation, this entire process could take no more than a few hours.

From floods to fires to snowstorms to tornadoes, America is perpetually in danger.
FEMA is an integral part of America’s society as it helps us not only to recover from disasters, but to prepare for them. FEMA is has released many disaster preparedness guides that inform citizens how they can prepare for several types of disasters. The agency is involved with projects to reinforce building foundations in areas susceptible to earthquakes. FEMA has worked to ensure affordable flood insurance for those who live in flood plains. Any well-organized government must have protocols in place to deal with natural disasters, and FEMA is an integral part of American society. In the event of a tragedy, American citizens know that they won’t be alone. Unfortunately, we will always have disasters. For the foreseeable future, however, FEMA will be there to help us prepare and recover.

Works Cited

Taylor, Alan. “1964: Alaska’s Good Friday Earthquake.” The Atlantic. The Atlantic Monthly Group, 30 May 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

“A Short History of FEMA.” Frontline, PBS, 22 Nov. 2005. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

United States. FEMA. “About the Agency.” 1 Apr. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

Wrede, Phil. “Disaster Relief in America: a Brief History of FEMA.” University Libraries News. University of Colorado, Boulder, 6 Jun. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “MERS Fact Sheet.” Press Office. United States, FEMA, 2009. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

DHS. FEMA. “The Disaster Process and Disaster
Aid Programs.” United States, FEMA, 3 Oct. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.