FEDERAL CIVIL DEFENSE AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT – FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders in 1979.  The agency's primary purpose is to coordinate the response to a disaster in the United States and that overwhelms the resources of local and state authorities. The Governor of the state in which the disaster occurs must declare a state of emergency and formally request from the president that FEMA and the federal government respond to the disaster. The only exception to the state's gubernatorial declaration requirement occurs when an emergency or disaster takes place on a federal property or asset—for example, the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, or the Space Shuttle Columbia in the 2003 return-flight disaster.

While on-the-ground support of disaster recovery efforts is a major part of FEMA's charter, the agency provides state and local governments with experts in specialized fields and funding for rebuilding efforts and relief funds for infrastructure by directing individuals to access low-interest loans, in conjunction with the Small Business Administration. In addition to this, FEMA provides funds for training of response personnel throughout the United States and its territories as part of the agency's preparedness effort.

In Fall 2008, FEMA took over coordination of the Ready Campaign, the national public service advertising (PSA) campaign in collaboration with the Ad Council to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural and man-made disasters. The Ready Campaign and its Spanish language version” Listo“ asks individuals to do three things: build an emergency supply kit,  make a family emergency plan and be informed about the different types of emergencies that can occur and how to respond. The campaign messages have been promoted through television, radio, print, outdoor and web PSAs, as well as brochures, toll-free phone lines and the English and Spanish language websites and social media.

FEMA was put in charge of procuring medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemeic.

Today FEMA exists as a major agency of the Department of Homeland Security. The Administrator for Federal Emergency Management reports directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security. In March 2003, FEMA joined 22 other federal agencies, programs and offices in becoming the Department of Homeland Security. The department, headed by Acting SecretaryBob Fenton since January 11, 2021, brought a coordinated approach to national security from emergencies and disasters – both natural and man-made.  FEMA manages the National Flood Insurance Program. Other programs FEMA previously administered have since been internalized or shifted under direct DHS control.

FEMA is also home to the National Continuity Programs Directorate (formerly the Office of National Security Coordination). ONSC was responsible for developing, exercising, and validating agency-wide continuity of operations and continuity of government plans as well as overseeing and maintaining continuity readiness including the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center. ONSC also coordinated the continuing efforts of other Federal Executive Agencies.  FEMA began administering the Center for Domestic Preparedness in 2007.

                                                  Credit – Wikipedia excerpts 2021