Federal Emergency Management Agency facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Agency overview
Formed	April 1, 1979; 46 years ago (1979-04-01)
Jurisdiction	United States Department of Homeland Security
Headquarters	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Motto	Helping people before, during and after disasters
Employees	22,991 (Sep 2023)
Annual budget	$29.5 billion (FY 2023)
Agency executive	Deanne Criswell, Administrator
Parent department	U.S. Department of Homeland Security

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a government agency in the United States. It's part of the Department of Homeland Security. FEMA was created in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter.

FEMA's main job is to help when a disaster in the U.S. is too big for local and state governments to handle alone. For FEMA to step in, the governor of the affected state usually has to ask the President for federal help. The only time this isn't needed is if the disaster happens on federal land or affects a federal building. An example is the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

FEMA does more than just help after a disaster. It also provides experts to state and local governments. It gives money to help rebuild damaged areas and offers relief funds. FEMA also helps people get low-interest loans, often with the Small Business Administration. Plus, FEMA trains emergency workers across the U.S. to help everyone be more ready for disasters.

History of Disaster Help

The U.S. government has been helping with emergencies for over 200 years.

Early Days (Before 1930s)

One of the first times the U.S. government helped after a disaster was in 1803. A big fire hit Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Congress passed a law to help merchants there by giving them more time to pay taxes.

Between 1803 and 1930, Congress passed over 100 special laws to help after disasters. For example, after the Great Fire of New York (1835), taxes were removed for merchants. After a theater collapsed in 1893, Congress paid people who were hurt.

Getting Organized (1930s–1960s)

During the Great Depression in the 1930s, President Herbert Hoover created the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) in 1932. The RFC's main job was to lend money to banks and businesses. It also helped give out federal money after disasters. Many see the RFC as the first organized federal disaster response group.

Over the years, other agencies also got involved. The Bureau of Public Roads helped fix roads after disasters. The Flood Control Act of 1944 gave the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers a big role in managing floods.

Many Agencies (1973–1979)

By 1973, federal disaster relief was moved under the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A new group called the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration was formed within HUD.

Before FEMA was created, many different government agencies handled disaster relief. Sometimes, over 100 separate agencies might be involved in one disaster. This often led to confusion about who was in charge.

Over time, Congress kept adding more types of disasters that could get help. They also set aside money for different kinds of emergencies. This meant many different agencies were given jobs related to disaster help.

Eventually, it became clear that the U.S. needed a single, clear plan for dealing with disasters. So, in 1978, the idea for FEMA was born. The goal was to bring all the different parts of disaster preparedness and civil defense under one roof. This was a big and debated decision.

FEMA as Its Own Agency (1979–2003)

The FEMA seal from 1981 to 2003

The FEMA flag from 1981 to 2003 and 2022-present

FEMA officially started on April 1, 1979, thanks to President Jimmy Carter. He signed an order that moved many different disaster-related groups into FEMA.

FEMA took over groups like the Federal Insurance Administration and the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration. It also became responsible for the nation's civil defense. This job used to be handled by the Department of Defense.

FEMA responded to early disasters like the toxic waste problem at Love Canal in New York. It also helped after the Three Mile Island accident, a nuclear power plant issue. These events showed that FEMA could work, but also that it had some things to improve.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton chose James Lee Witt to lead FEMA. Under Witt, FEMA became a more important agency. He made changes to make disaster recovery faster and better. After the Cold War ended, FEMA could focus more on preparing for natural disasters instead of just civil defense.

Congress kept giving FEMA more responsibilities. These included dam safety, earthquake safety, and helping with hazardous materials. FEMA also got involved in fighting terrorism after the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway.

FEMA Under Homeland Security (2003–Present)

President George W. Bush signs a law about homeland security in 2004.

After the September 11 attacks in 2001, Congress created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS was made to bring together many federal agencies that deal with safety and emergencies. FEMA became part of DHS on March 1, 2003.

This change meant FEMA was no longer an independent agency. It became part of a larger department. In 2007, FEMA became the Federal Emergency Management Agency again, but it stayed within DHS.

Some people, including FEMA's director at the time, Michael D. Brown, worried that joining DHS would hurt FEMA's ability to do its job. They thought it might make FEMA less effective in responding to disasters.

Hurricane Katrina in 2005 showed some of these problems. Many felt that the government's response was not good enough. A report later said that FEMA didn't have enough trained staff and that money for preparing for natural disasters was given less importance than money for fighting terrorism.

After Hurricane Katrina, some changes were made. The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) was moved to the Department of Health and Human Services.

In 2008, FEMA took over the Ready Campaign. This campaign teaches Americans how to prepare for emergencies. It asks people to build an emergency kit, make a family plan, and learn about different types of disasters.

The Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 allowed DHS to send extra staff from other federal departments to help FEMA when it's overwhelmed. This "Surge Capacity Force" has been used for major hurricanes like Sandy, Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

FEMA also helped get medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, FEMA brought back its older flag design, used from 1981 to 2003.

How FEMA is Set Up

FEMA is a big agency within the Department of Homeland Security. The head of FEMA reports directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security.

FEMA runs the National Flood Insurance Program. This program helps people get flood insurance. FEMA also oversees the Center for Domestic Preparedness, which trains emergency responders.

FEMA also manages the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). This program gives money to non-profit groups that are at high risk of terrorist attacks. The money helps them improve their physical security. In 2022, this program received $305 million.

FEMA's Budget

In 2018, FEMA had a budget of $18 billion. This money is used to help different states when emergencies happen. FEMA shares a list of how these funds are used each year on its website.

FEMA Regions

FEMA divides the U.S. into 10 regions to better manage disasters.

FEMA divides the United States into 10 regions to help manage its work. Each region has an office that serves specific states and territories:

• Region 1, Boston, MA – Serves CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT
• Region 2, New York, NY – Serves NJ, NY, PR, USVI
• Region 3, Philadelphia, PA – Serves DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV
• Region 4, Atlanta, GA – Serves AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN
• Region 5, Chicago, IL – Serves IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI
• Region 6, Denton, TX – Serves AR, LA, NM, OK, TX
• Region 7, Kansas City, MO – Serves IA, KS, MO, NE
• Region 8, Denver, CO – Serves CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY
• Region 9, Oakland, CA – Serves AZ, CA, HI, NV, GU, AS, CNMI, RMI, FM
• Region 10, Bothell, WA – Serves AK, ID, OR, WA

Preparing for Disasters

FEMA's Mitigation Directorate focuses on programs that happen before a disaster. Their goal is to find risks and reduce injuries, property loss, and recovery time. FEMA has major programs for floods, hurricanes, dams, and earthquakes.

FEMA works to make sure flood insurance is affordable for homeowners in areas that flood often. This is done through the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA also works to prevent building in known flood zones and helps move or raise buildings that are at risk.

FEMA offers grants to help communities prepare. These grants can be used to buy property to turn into open space, make old buildings stronger, build tornado and storm shelters, and manage plants to prevent erosion and fires. Some critics say this program doesn't get enough money compared to disaster response.

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program helps rebuild after a disaster in a way that makes future disasters less damaging.

FEMA Corps

FEMA Corps is a special group of young people, aged 18 to 26. They are part of AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) and work closely with FEMA.

These young people are trained to help with disaster response and recovery. They work full-time for 10 months on federal disaster efforts. FEMA Corps members work in teams of 6 to 10 people. They live and travel together, following the traditional AmeriCorps NCCC model.

FEMA Corps Pacific Region Blue Unit members.

Besides working with FEMA, Corps members also do physical training and participate in community service projects. They receive a small amount of money for food and living expenses. After they finish their service, they get an education award to help pay for college or student loans.

Managing Donations

FEMA has partnered with private companies and relief groups to create a National Donations Management Program. This program makes it easier for companies or individuals to offer free help to states and the federal government during disasters.

Criticisms of FEMA

FEMA has faced criticism for how it has handled some major disasters.

Hurricane Andrew (1992)

Hurricane Andrew hit Florida and Louisiana in 1992. FEMA was heavily criticized for its slow response. Many people were left homeless, and it took days for federal help to arrive. This event led to a report that pointed out problems in FEMA's disaster management.

FEMA had also been criticized for its response to Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Many of the same issues seen during Andrew also appeared during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Florida Hurricanes (2004)

A newspaper in South Florida, the Sun-Sentinel, listed many criticisms of FEMA during the four hurricanes that hit the region in 2004.

• After Hurricane Frances hit, FEMA approved $21 million in claims for new furniture, clothes, and other items for people in Miami-Dade County. This happened even though the county was not directly hit by the hurricane. A government investigation found that FEMA wrongly declared Miami-Dade a disaster area and gave out money without checking for real damage.
• FEMA also paid for funerals for over 200 Floridians whose deaths were not caused by the 2004 hurricanes. Some of these people were not even in Florida when they died.

The way flood insurance works is changing because of rising sea levels and more severe storms. FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program used to base prices on a "100-year floodplain." This meant homes in areas that flooded often, especially on the coast, got big discounts.

In 2019, FEMA introduced Risk Rating 2.0. This new program prices a house based on its individual flood risk. It looks at how far a house is from water, how often it floods, and how much it would cost to rebuild. This means homeowners in high-risk areas will pay more for insurance. This change aims to make the system fairer, as previously, people living inland often paid more to cover the costs of coastal homes.

Hurricane Katrina (2005)

People evacuated from Hurricane Katrina taking shelter at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas.

FEMA received strong criticism for its response to Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. FEMA had staff ready in the Gulf Coast, but many couldn't help directly. They could only report on the terrible situation, especially in New Orleans. The huge number of people needing help overwhelmed rescue workers. The flooding and poor communication made things worse.

FEMA's director at the time, Michael D. Brown, was personally criticized for a slow response. He was later removed from leading the Katrina effort and then resigned.

A U.S. House of Representatives committee investigated the response to Hurricane Katrina. They found that:

• DHS and FEMA didn't have enough trained staff for the disaster.
• FEMA's national emergency teams were not ready enough.
• FEMA struggled to provide enough shelter and temporary housing.
• FEMA's systems for getting supplies and contracts were not good enough.

A DMAT member talks to a rescued man on September 5, 2005, in Louisiana.

The committee concluded that FEMA's problems were due to years of its preparedness being weakened. They said this made FEMA's poor performance during Katrina "all but inevitable."

Many people who lost their homes in Katrina lived in temporary shelters or trailer parks. In 2007, ice that was ordered for Katrina victims but never used was melted down, costing $12.5 million. In 2008, a CNN investigation found that FEMA gave away about $85 million in goods meant for Katrina victims to 16 other states.

California Wildfires (2007)

FEMA was criticized in 2007 during the October 2007 California wildfires. It was discovered that a press conference about the fires was staged. A FEMA official was answering questions from FEMA employees who were pretending to be reporters. These questions were easy and made FEMA look good. Real reporters were given very little notice and could only listen in on a phone call.

Hurricane Maria (2017)

Hurricane Maria hit Dominica and Puerto Rico in September 2017 with very strong winds. Even though FEMA had prepared, the island was severely damaged. FEMA had staff, food, water, and bedding ready. However, people reported that FEMA food packages sometimes contained unhealthy snacks like Skittles. FEMA was heavily criticized for its response, as Puerto Rico quickly faced a humanitarian crisis.

The island also lost almost all its electricity. A general from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers explained that only about 14% of the power grid was working.

FEMA Administrator Brock Long said that political problems in Puerto Rico made it harder for the federal government to send aid. Residents sometimes had to fill out paperwork in English instead of Spanish, which made it hard to get help.

Another general, José J. Reyes, said that the delay was also because of many strong storms hitting the U.S. in a short time. He explained that getting supplies to Puerto Rico is harder than to places like Florida or Texas because everything has to travel across the ocean by plane or ship. Puerto Rico's main airport also couldn't work at full speed.

Long resigned in 2019 after criticism of his handling of Hurricane Maria and for misusing official vehicles.

Hurricane Harvey (2017)

Hurricane Harvey hit southeast Texas in August 2017 as a very strong hurricane. It caused massive flooding in many areas. Harvey was one of several major storms that hit the U.S. that year.

Some people had to wait up to two months to get help from FEMA because of technical problems with their applications. Some residents were denied federal aid and had to fight to get help to rebuild their homes.

COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)

In early 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were reports that the Trump administration and FEMA were taking medical supplies that states and hospitals had ordered. Hospitals said they weren't told how to get their supplies back.

For example, San Francisco Mayor London Breed said that items they ordered were taken by FEMA and sent to other places. She also said that some items were put on the market for the highest bidder, making cities and states compete for supplies.

The state of Massachusetts said that FEMA took a shipment of 3 million masks they had bought. Another order for 400 masks was also claimed by the federal government. Because of this, the New England Patriots football team used their team plane to bring 1.2 million masks from China to Boston.

The governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, had the Maryland National Guard guard a shipment of 500,000 COVID-19 testing kits he bought from South Korea. He kept them in a secret location to prevent them from being taken.

The state of Colorado was about to buy 500 ventilators, but FEMA bought them first. This led Colorado's governor to make future supply purchases in secret.

FEMA and Governments

Disasters can be very costly for states and local areas. Federal help from FEMA becomes available when the President approves it, after a governor asks for help. The federal government usually pays 75% of the cost for governments to repair public buildings. Local governments pay the rest. FEMA does not pay to fix buildings that were not properly taken care of, nor does it pay to upgrade facilities.

Many states have their own disaster relief agencies. If a disaster is too big for a state to handle, the state's disaster director will advise the governor to declare a state of emergency. This declaration, if approved by the President, allows the state to get federal help.

Local governments are the first to respond to a disaster. Their ability to respond depends on things like how much tax money they have, how much sales tax they lose, and how much debt the city has. Cities with strong finances and agreements to share resources with other cities are better prepared.

List of FEMA Leaders

Titles of FEMA Leaders

The head of FEMA has had different titles over the years:

• Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness (May 1975 – April 1, 1979)
• Director of Federal Emergency Management Agency (April 1, 1979 – April 15, 2003)
  • This role was part of the President's Cabinet from 1996 to 2001.
• Director of Federal Emergency Management Agency and Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response (April 15, 2003 – June 8, 2006)
• Director of Federal Emergency Management Agency and Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Federal Emergency Management (June 8, 2006 – March 31, 2007)
• Administrator of Federal Emergency Management Agency (March 31, 2007 – present)

See also

In Spanish: Agencia Federal de Gestión de Emergencias para niños