What is FEMA and what do they do? What is FEMA's mission? What does FEMA stand for? Read this and see.

FEMA co-ordinators.

FEMA, is it a secret society, deep state, or insurance company, what is it?

FEMA is The Federal Emergency Management Agency, they are responsible for responding to natural and man-caused disasters in the United States. FEMA's mission statement is "Helping people before, during, and after disasters."

The agency was created when President Jimmy Carter signed an executive order creating FEMA on April 1, 1979. It has been in existence for 38 years, their mission is well defined to lead the United States in the prevention and preparation as well as the response and recovery from Catastrophic events, leading under the directive of "A Nation Prepared." The agency is responsible for responding to acts of terror (defined as a natural disaster) and is tasked with organizing and regulating the Governments emergency response.

Disaster response was not an idea conceived during the 1930's, the first disaster legislation was the Congressional Act of 1803 in response to a New Hampshire Town that experienced a devastating fire. Throughout the next 128 years, more legislation was enacted as a knee-jerk reaction to the numerous Tornadoes, Floods, Hurricanes and other disasters. People began to rely on the Federal Government for disaster response, more than 100 bills were passed dealing with them. Finally in the 1930's, partly due to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation being given the authority to issue disaster loans for the repair of some public buildings. The bill initially was written for Earthquake response, later it was expanded to include other disasters. It was a slow process, an entire bureaucracy was being developed.

*The Bureau of Public Roads received authority to fund roads, highways, and bridges destroyed by the natural disasters, in 1934.

* In 1965 the Flood Control Act was passed giving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers the authority to implement flood control measures.

* The wheels of progress grind slowly, the unorganized piecemeal legislature that had been put together was not solving the issue. Greater co-operation was needed between Government agencies to enable an organized, sensible and effective response. The ultimate goal was to give authority to the President to direct the disaster responses.

* Established under the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) The Federal Disaster Assistance Administration was formed. During the 1960's and early 1970's huge disasters left cities with damages requiring Federal assistance to recover. These disasters and the following response brought about another round of legislation.

* The National Flood Insurance Act was passed in 1968, under which the Federal Insurance Administration was mandated to offer coverage to homeowners for the first time in U.S. history.

* Following in 1973 the purchase of flood insurance was made mandatory for structures in special flood hazard areas. The Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 was the forerunner of the flood insurance many homeowners in flood zones purchase today.

President Nixon, helped with disaster relief laws.

* President Nixon signed the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, which established the protocol for Presidential disaster declarations.

* There were many State programs and laws in existence that simplified the federal relief actions, easing a bit of the complexity.

* The efforts were still not meshing together fluidly, still cumbersome especially with hazards associated with transportation of hazardous materials and nuclear power that were added to the list of natural disasters. There were over 100 government agencies involved in some manner in response to disasters.

* The National Governor's Association requested President Jimmy Carter to integrate the federal emergency role with the states. Many of the redundant agencies, laws, and procedures were taken over by the federal government.

November 23, 1988, public law 100-707 was signed, creating the system we have now of which a disaster declaration by the President begins the process for financial and physical response through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as FEMA. They were given the responsibility for organizing government-wide relief efforts. The well thought out bill had the intention of creating a means for the government to provide assistance to citizens who have suffered losses because of the disasters. The Act gives statutory authority for disaster response as they pertain to FEMA and it's programming.

In 1979 President Carter signed an executive order merging many of the stand-alone disaster responsibilities into FEMA. There were a lot of loose ends to tie up and this executive order made it possible for that end goal to be met, some of the agencies absolved were:

President Carter helped with disaster relief as well.

1) The Federal Insurance Administration

2) The National Fire Prevention and Control Administration

3) The National Weather Service Community Preparedness Program.

4) The Federal Preparedness Agency of General Services Administration.

5) The Federal Disaster Assistance Administration activities from HUD.

6) The Civil defense responsibilities were placed under the umbrella of the new agency from the Defense Departments Defense Civil Preparedness Agency.

That is not all, it was still in flux, as the mission of FEMA became more defined and accepted on March 1, 2003, it became part of the Department of Homeland Security. The purpose was for FEMA to accept the responsibility for training, and providing equipment to enable first responders to answer effectively and deal with weapons of mass destruction.

President George W. Bush signed the Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act on October 4, 2006. Providing substantial new authority to close the gaps that were exposed during the emergency response to Katrina during August 2005. Katrina was the most devastating natural disaster in the countries history

President G.W. Bush helped also. 

Thanks for reading and sharing my blog, it is not an in-depth description but is meant as a brief explanation of what FEMA is all about. The agency affects each of us in one way or another, mostly before, during and after a catastrophic event. It is criticized widely, but all in all, it does a pretty good job when consideration is given to the wide array of responsibilities under its authority. We can count on them for relief, it may take a few days, or at least until a disaster zone is declared. The pause in relief time is the reason each of us should have at our disposal an emergency family plan (Link) and a seven-day emergency kit (Link). Just how much a person wishes to be prepared is an individual choice, it is not uncommon for people to equip themselves with a years supply of food, a means to purify water for the long term, sanitation centers, and tents meant for long-term use. FEMA was established to assist us in our recovery and rebuilding efforts, we all still must assume at least a part of the responsibility for our own survival.

Jacquesandkate  EmergencyKitsPlus.com