Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA Resilience aims to build a culture of preparedness through insurance, mitigation, continuity, preparedness programs and grants. The organization includes the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Grant Programs Directorate, National Continuity Programs, and National Preparedness Directorate, as well as other offices. FEMA Resilience works to fulfill FEMA’s vision ofa prepared and resilient nation through its programs and partnerships. ~FEMA.gov
Five Mission Areas
Prevention
Prevent, avoid or stop an imminent, threatened or actual act of terrorism.
Protection
Protect our citizens, residents, visitors, and assets against the greatest threats and hazards in a manner that allows our interests, aspirations and way of life to thrive.
Mitigation
Reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of future disasters.
Response
Respond quickly to save lives, protect property and the environment, and meet basic human needs in the aftermath of a catastrophic incident.
Recovery
Recover through a focus on the timely restoration, strengthening and revitalization of infrastructure, housing and a sustainable economy, as well as the health, social, cultural, historic and environmental fabric of communities affected by a catastrophic incident.
Mission Areas and Core Capabilities | FEMA.gov
Disaster Recovery
When people think of FEMA, they likely envision rescuers finding victims and taking them to safety. FEMA does provide emergency assistance, temporary housing, and other services. But its main job is to coordinate the response of many parts of the federal government.
President Jimmy Carter created FEMA in 1978 by combining the functions of several different government agencies.1 Today, its work is governed by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006. The law charges FEMA with assisting the president in carrying out his functions under the core federal disaster law, the Stafford Act.
The primary mission of the Agency is to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, by leading and supporting the Nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.
6 U.S.C. 313(b)(1)
FEMA follows a national response framework that it issued in 2013. The framework emphasizes that disaster response requires “layered, mutually supporting capabilities of individuals, communities, the private sector, NGOs non-governmental organizations, and governments at all levels.” Efforts are coordinated through the Incident Command System, including multiple agencies. No fewer than 14 agencies can be involved in post-disaster response.
FEMA also plays an important role in disaster recovery through its role in the federal flood insurance program. This program, as currently designed, provides subsidies to many property owners to develop or maintain structures in unsafe areas. This problem is discussed in a previous chapter of this report. But FEMA also plays an important role in rebuilding, through requirements imposed on local governments and property owners in return for disaster funding. In reauthorizing FEMA until July 31, 2018, Congress made an effort to improve resilience of local public infrastructure.
The Center for Progressive Reform
FEMA Higher Education Program
The mission of the Higher Education Program is to engage academia, emergency management professional organizations, and practitioners to work together to foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation through education and research to meet the challenges that confront the nation.