Flood protection standard
Introduction
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created under President Jimmy Carter through Presidential Reorganization Plan Number 3 of 1978 and implemented by two executive orders on April 1, 1979. The primary objective of the agency is to coordinate a response to a disaster that has occurred in the United States and that exceeds the resources of local and state authorities. The governor of the state where the disaster is occurring must declare a state of emergency and formally request the President of the United States that FEMA and the federal government respond to the disaster. The only exception to the state government declaration requirement is when an emergency or disaster occurs on federal property or a federal asset; for example, the 1995 Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building Bombing in Oklahoma City, or the 2003 space shuttle Columbia accident.
While on-the-ground support for disaster recovery efforts is a critical part of FEMA's statutes, the agency provides state and local governments with experts in specialized fields, funds for reconstruction efforts, and relief funds for infrastructure development, facilitating access to low-interest loans, in collaboration with the Small Business Administration. Additionally, FEMA provides funding for the training of emergency response personnel throughout the United States and funds for non-federal entities to provide housing and services to migrants released from Department of Homeland Security custody.
History
By the 1930s, as federal focus on the problems became popular, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation was given authority to make disaster relief loans to repair and rebuild certain public facilities after an earthquake, and later, other types of disasters. In 1934, the Bureau of Public Roads was given authority to provide funding for roads and bridges damaged by natural disasters. The Flood Control Act, which gave the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers greater authority to implement flood control projects, was also signed into law. This piecemeal approach to disaster assistance was problematic and led to legislation requiring greater cooperation among federal agencies and authorizing the President to coordinate such activities.
1960s
In the 1960s and early 1970s there were massive disasters that required increased federal response and recovery operations by the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration, established within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Hurricane Carla struck in 1962, Hurricane Betsy in 1965, Hurricane Camille in 1969, and Hurricane Agnes in 1972. The Alaska Earthquake occurred in 1964, and the San Fernando Earthquake struck Southern California in 1971. These events served to focus attention on the problem of natural disasters and led to more legislation. In 1968, the National Flood Insurance Act offered new flood protection to homeowners, and in 1974 the Disaster Relief Act firmly established the presidential declaration process. of disasters.