Homeland Security

Homeland Security

Introduction

FEMA - the Federal Emergency Management Agency is an organization working under the Department of Homeland Security of the United States. It was initially created by the Presidential Reorganization (Plan No. 3 of 1978) and was implemented through two Executive orders on the 1st of April 1979. The basic purpose behind the creation of Federal Emergency Management Agency is the coordination required to respond to any disaster that has happened anywhere in the United States and which cannot be handled by the state and local authorities.

The state in which the disaster struck, the governor of that the state must declare an emergency in that state and should formally request the president that the Federal Emergency Management Agency along with the federal government takes action to manage the disaster. This service is also provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for different territories like Puerto Rico, of the United States. The exception to the jurisdiction of FEMA is the disasters that wither occur or happen to any federal property or asset like for instance bombing on any federal property or asset.

While FEMA's main responsibility on the surface is to provide support in times of disaster and recovery as per its charter, however, FEMA also provides the local and state governments with expertise in various specialized areas and funding for the restructuring efforts and funds for relief for the infrastructure. This is done by providing individuals loans with low interest rates in link with the Administration of Small Business. Furthermore, it also provides resources for the use of training of the personnel of the response team. This is done through the United States and in the territories that come under it, this is a part of FEMA's preparedness measures..

Discussion

FEMA as an independent agency (1979-2003)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was formed in 1978 under the Plan No. 3 of Reorganization Plan No. 3. It was activated in April 1, 1979 by Jimmy Carter through his Executive Order 12127. Jimmy Carter in July finalized the Executive Order 12148 which shifted the relief from disaster efforts to the new and higher level of federal agency. The nation's Civil Defense was also overseeing by the FEMA as its responsibility, this was initially done be the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency of the Department of Defense.

FEMA's responses included the disaster at the Love Canal in Niagara Falls where the toxic material was being dumped in the late 1970s. Similarly, it also responded to the meltdown of the nuclear generating station in Three Mile Island nuclear incident. These accidents prove that FEMA was functioning properly, however, also highlighted various inefficiencies. In the year 1996, FEMA got a raise to the rank of cabinet; this was discontinued by the President George W. Bush. Reforms were initiated that were to help in streamlining the recovery from disaster and the mitigation method. At the end of the Cold War, the agency returned to focusing on the natural disasters. There was a continuous addition in the responsibilities of FEMA, furthermore, it ...