United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

Variant names

Dates:

Active 1979

Active 1983

Establishment 1979

Nationality: Americans

Language: English

History notes:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was established as an independent agency by Executive Order (E.O.) 12127, March 31, 1979, pursuant to Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 (92 Stat. 3788), both effective April 1, 1979, and by E.O. 12148, July 20, 1979, retroactive to July 15, 1979.

The establishment of FEMA consolidated many separate disaster-related functions and agencies. It absorbed the Federal Insurance Administration, the U.S. Fire Administration, the National Weather Service Community Preparedness Program, the Federal Preparedness Agency of the General Services Administration, the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration, and the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency.

FEMA developed and coordinated, through the National Preparedness Directorate, national policies and facilities necessary for the Federal Government to deliver effective crisis management during periods of domestic emergency. It managed the President's Disaster Relief Fund. Other Agency programs included response to and recovery from major natural disasters and human-caused emergencies, emergency management planning, flood plain management, dam safety, and multi-hazard response planning. Other activities included off-site planning for emergencies at commercial nuclear power plants and the Department of the Army's chemical stockpile sites, emergency food and shelter funding for the homeless, plans to ensure the continuity of the Federal Government during national security emergencies, and Federal response to the consequence of major terrorist incidents. It operated and maintained the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS). It administered, through the Federal Insurance Administration, the national flood insurance program. FEMA coordinated, though the U.S. Fire Administration, Federal programs in the areas of fire prevention and control. It provided training and education programs at the National Emergency Training Center (National Fire Academy and Emergency Management Institute).

In March 2003 FEMA was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security.