The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States federal government that is responsible for coordinating the response to natural disasters and other emergencies. It was created in 1979, following a reorganization of the federal government’s emergency management functions.
Prior to the creation of FEMA, responsibility for emergency management was scattered among several different agencies, including the Civil Defense Agency and the National Security Council. This led to confusion and delays in the government’s response to disasters.
In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the Disaster Relief Act, which consolidated the emergency management functions of these various agencies into a single entity, known as the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The agency was initially a part of the Department of Defense, but was later transferred to the newly-created Department of Homeland Security in 2003.
Since its creation, FEMA has played a key role in the federal government’s response to a wide range of disasters, including hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and terrorist attacks. It has also provided assistance to state and local governments in developing emergency response plans and coordinating the response to disasters.