Federal Emergency Management Agency

Federal Emergency Management Agency in the United States

Introduction to Federal Emergency Management Agency

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), agency of the United States government that helps anticipate, prepare for, and respond to disasters and major civil emergencies. FEMA’s main function is to coordinate federal disaster relief activities for events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, and terrorist attacks. It also coordinates disaster preparedness programs with state and local authorities and with nonprofit organizations such as the American Red Cross (see Red Cross). FEMA’s headquarters is in Washington, D.C.

FEMA was created in 1979 by executive order of President Jimmy Carter. It consolidated agencies from several departments: the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency from the Department of Defense; the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration and flood, riot, and crime insurance programs from the Department of Housing and Urban Development; the United States Fire Administration and National Academy for Fire Prevention from the Department of Commerce; and the Federal Preparedness Agency from the General Services Administration. In 2003 FEMA became part of the Department of Homeland Security, an agency created in response to the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001 (September 11 Attacks).

FEMA came under heavy criticism following Hurricane Katrina, which struck the Gulf Coast of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi and devastated the city of New Orleans in August 2005. The agency’s slow response to the severe flooding in the hurricane’s wake raised questions about its professionalism. FEMA drew criticism for failing to deliver needed relief in the days and weeks after the disaster and later on for mishandling and wasting relief funds. FEMA director Michael Brown, who had no previous disaster management experience, resigned in September 2005 in response to the criticism.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

Guide to Federal Emergency Management Agency

About U.S. Federal Departments

Federal Departments, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense (including Department of Defense Purpose, Department of Defense Organization, Department of Defense Liaison of Command and Department of Defense Supporting Agencies), Department of Education, Department of Energy

(including Department of Energy Purpose, Department of Energy Organization and Department of Energy Research and Development), Department of Health and Human Services (including Department of Health and Human Services History and Department of Health and Human Services Agencies and Services), Department of Homeland Security (including Department of Homeland Security Organization and Functions, Department of Homeland Security Origins and Department of Homeland Security Supporting Agencies), Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice (including Department of Justice Functions, Department of Justice Structure and Department of Justice Associated Agencies), Department of Labor, Department of National Defence, Department of State (including Department of State Administration and Department of State Bureaus), Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army, Department of the Interior (including Department of the Interior Functions and Department of the Interior Principal Agencies), Department of the Navy, Department of the Treasury, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs (including the Department of Veterans Affairs Service Categories, Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Available and GI Bill of Rights) and Department of War.

Federal Emergency Management Agency in State Statute Topics

Introduction to Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) (State statute topic)

The purpose of Federal Emergency Management Agency is to provide a broad appreciation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency legal topic. Select from the list of U.S. legal topics for information (other than Federal Emergency Management Agency).

Resources

Further Reading

Federal Emergency Management Agency (fema) in the International Business Landscape

Definition of Federal Emergency Management Agency (fema) in the context of U.S. international business and public trade policy: Federal agency that is accountable for emergency preparedness and response for all levels of government and for all types of emergencies (natural, manmade, and nuclear).


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