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54-724: According to the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and the Incident Command System (ICS), the incident command post (ICP) is one of five predesignated temporary facilities and signifies the physical location of the tactical-level, on-scene incident command and management organization. It typically comprises the incident commander and immediate staff and may include other designated incident management officials and responders from federal, state, local, and tribal agencies, as well as private-sector, nongovernmental, and volunteer organizations. Typically,

108-527: A combination of regular appropriations and emergency funding in response to events. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001 , Congress passed the Homeland Security Act of 2002 , which created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to better coordinate among the different federal agencies that deal with law enforcement, disaster preparedness and recovery, border protection and civil defense. FEMA

162-522: A current disaster in a way that reduces the impact of a similar future disaster. FEMA's emergency response is based on small, decentralized teams trained in such areas as the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS), Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), Disaster Mortuary Operations Response Team (DMORT), Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT), and Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS). FEMA's National Response Coordination Center (NRCC)

216-692: A federal asset—for example, the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City , Oklahoma, or the Space Shuttle Columbia in the 2003 return-flight disaster . While on-the-ground support of disaster recovery efforts is a major part of FEMA's charter, the agency provides state and local governments with experts in specialized fields, funding for rebuilding efforts, and relief funds for infrastructure development by directing individuals to access low-interest loans, in conjunction with

270-518: A major agency of the Department of Homeland Security. The Administrator for Federal Emergency Management reports directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security . In March 2003, FEMA joined 22 other federal agencies, programs and offices in becoming the Department of Homeland Security. The new department, headed by Secretary Tom Ridge , brought a coordinated approach to national security from emergencies and disasters – both natural and man-made. FEMA manages

324-408: A measure in 1803 that provided relief for Portsmouth merchants by extending the time they had for remitting tariffs on imported goods. This is widely considered the first piece of legislation passed by the federal government that provided relief after a disaster. Between 1803 and 1930, ad hoc legislation was passed more than 100 times for relief or compensation after a disaster. Examples include

378-458: A mockery of FEMA's new motto, "A Nation Prepared", and would "fundamentally sever FEMA from its core functions", "shatter agency morale" and "break longstanding, effective and tested relationships with states and first responder stakeholders". The inevitable result of the reorganization of 2003, warned Brown, would be "an ineffective and uncoordinated response" to a terrorist attack or a natural disaster. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 demonstrated that

432-449: A nuclear war, dubbed CRP-2B . FEMA offers a large number of training classes, either at its own centers, through programs at the state level, in cooperation with colleges and universities, or online. The latter are free classes available to anyone, although only those with U.S. residency or work eligibility can take the final examinations. More information is available on the FEMA website under

486-401: A truck with satellite uplink, computers, telephone, and power generation at a staging area near a disaster so that the responders can communicate with the outside world. There are also Mobile Air Transportable Telecommunications System (MATTS) assets which can be airlifted in. Also, portable cell phone towers can be erected to allow local responders to access telephone systems. The first test of

540-593: Is a multiagency center located at FEMA HQ that coordinates the overall Federal support for major disasters and emergencies, including catastrophic incidents in support of operations at the regional level. The FEMA Administrator, or his or her delegate, activates the NRCC in anticipation of, or in response to, an incident by activating the NRCC staff, which includes FEMA personnel, the appropriate Emergency Support Functions, and other appropriate personnel (including nongovernmental organization and private sector representatives). During

594-432: Is a standardized all-hazards, all incident approach to any incident that allows multiple resources to work together. The ICS command structure is a modular system that can be expanded or contracted as the incident requires. There are multiple staffing positions within the unified command structure. The main staff include Incident command, command staff, and general staff. Incident command or unified command are in charge of

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648-553: Is available to homeowners in flood plains, through the National Flood Insurance Program , and also works to enforce no-build zones in known flood plains and relocate or elevate some at-risk structures. Pre-Disaster Mitigation grants are available to acquire property for conversion to open space, retrofit existing buildings, construct tornado and storm shelters, manage vegetation for erosion and fire control, and small flood control projects. Critics say this program

702-721: Is broken out into three primary grant programs: State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP), Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), and Operation Stonegarden (OPSG). As of 2024, the Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP) is funded as a percentage carveout of HSGP as well. The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) used to be funded under the HSGP as well, but Congress now funds that program separate from HSGP. NSGP provides funding for nonprofit organizations more at risk to terrorist actions and domestic violence extremeism to invest in target hardening. This includes, but

756-406: Is not limited to, organizations such as educational facilities, hospitals, and house of worship. In 2024, FEMA administered over $ 3 billion across the suite of homeland security grants. In 2018, FEMA had an annual budget of $ 18 billion that is used and distributed in different states according to the emergencies that occur in each one. An annual list of the use of these funds is disclosed at

810-866: Is not normally added, but can be added if need is the information/intelligence section . As the name suggests, this staff position is in charge of gathering information and intelligence. An emergency operations center (EOC) is where the organizational coordination and support of an incident or emergency is carried out. An EOC is pre-established and represents the municipal, state, county, or regional response to support an Incident command post or multi-agency coordination system (MACS). The multi-agency coordination system (MACS) allows multiple agencies to work together and allows for coordination, unified command, planning, and resource allocation. The communication part of NIMS includes four key principles. They include: Federal Emergency Management Agency currently offers core training about NIMS and ICS. IS-700.B: An Introduction to

864-603: Is to coordinate the response to a disaster that has occurred in the United States and that overwhelms the resources of local and state authorities. The governor of the state in which the disaster occurs must declare a state of emergency and formally request from the President that FEMA and the federal government respond to the disaster. The only exception to the state's gubernatorial declaration requirement occurs when an emergency or disaster takes place on federal property or to

918-467: Is underperforming because it is starved for funding compared to disaster response and recovery, the process of applying for a buyout is unreasonably slow, and is wasting taxpayer dollars because the National Flood Insurance Program has paid to reconstruct some properties up to 18 times. 1% of NFIP-insured properties are responsible for more than one quarter of the money the program has paid out. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds rebuilding after

972-540: The COVID-19 pandemic . According to a tweet posted on April 12, 2022, by Deanne Criswell , the FEMA flag, used between 1981 and 2003, was reintroduced. During the debate of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, some called for FEMA to remain as an independent agency. Following the failed response to Hurricane Katrina, critics called for FEMA to be removed from the Department of Homeland Security. Today FEMA exists as

1026-904: The Federal Insurance Administration , the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration , the National Weather Service Community Preparedness Program , the Federal Preparedness Agency of the General Services Administration and the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration activities from HUD. FEMA was also given the responsibility for overseeing the nation's Civil Defense, a function which had previously been performed by

1080-529: The General Services Administration (GSA) (upon termination of the OEmP). These actions demonstrated that, during those years, the nation's domestic preparedness was addressed by several disparate legislative actions, motivated by policy and budgetary earmarking, and not by a single, unifying, comprehensive strategy to meet the nation's needs over time. Then, in 1978 an effort was made to consolidate

1134-699: The Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center. ONSC also coordinated the continuing efforts of other Federal Executive Agencies. FEMA began administering the Center for Domestic Preparedness in 2007. FEMA administers the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) which provides funding to state governments, local governments, Tribal governemnts, and Territorial governments along with specified Urban Areas and counties along international borders to invest in security enhancements. HSGP

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1188-584: The National Flood Insurance Program . Other programs FEMA previously administered have since been internalized or shifted under direct DHS control. FEMA is also home to the National Continuity Programs Directorate (formerly the Office of National Security Coordination). ONSC was responsible for developing, exercising, and validating agency-wide continuity of government plans as well as overseeing and maintaining continuity readiness including

1242-514: The Ready Campaign , the national public service advertising campaign in collaboration with the Ad Council , to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural and man-made disasters. The Ready Campaign and its Spanish-language version Listo asks individuals to do three things: build an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan and be informed about

1296-498: The Small Business Administration . In addition to this, FEMA provides funds for response personnel training throughout the United States as part of the agency's preparedness effort. Federal emergency management in the U.S. has existed in one form or another for over 200 years. A series of devastating fires struck the port city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire , early in the 19th century. The 7th U.S. Congress passed

1350-491: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authority over flood control and irrigation projects and thus played a major role in disaster recovery from flooding. Federal disaster relief and recovery was brought under the umbrella of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in 1973 by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973, and the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration was created as an organizational unit within

1404-648: The Department of Defense's Defense Civil Preparedness Agency. One of the disasters FEMA responded to was the dumping of toxic waste into Love Canal in Niagara Falls, New York , in the late 1970s. FEMA also responded to the Three Mile Island nuclear accident where the nuclear-generating station suffered a partial core meltdown . These disasters, while showing the agency could function properly, also uncovered some inefficiencies. In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed James Lee Witt as FEMA Director. In 1996,

1458-702: The EOP; after that, the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization , which renamed the former agency; then, the Office of Civil Defense , under the Department of Defense (DoD); the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW); the Department of Agriculture ; the Office of Emergency Planning (OEmP); the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency (replacing the OCD in the DoD); the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and

1512-506: The ICP is located at or in the immediate vicinity of the incident site and is the focus for the conduct of direct, on-scene control of tactical operations. Incident planning is also conducted at the ICP; an incident communications center also would normally be established at this location. The ICP may be collocated with the incident base, if the communications requirements can be met. The ICP may perform local emergency operations center-like functions in

1566-633: The NIIMS, but not everyone did. After 9/11 , there was a need for more coordination and clearer communication among agencies, so the DHS started to expand upon FIRESCOPE and NIMS and created the first NIMS document releasing it in 2004. Identifying and managing resources allows the incident commander to get the correct resources as needed. Identifying the resources can help the IC know that they exist and are ready to deploy for use. Identifying and Typing resources include finding

1620-660: The National Dam Safety Program Act; disaster assistance under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ; earthquake hazards reduction under the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 and further expanded by Executive Order 12699, regarding safety requirements for federal buildings and Executive Order 12941, concerning the need for cost estimates to seismically retrofit federal buildings; emergency food and shelter under

1674-754: The National Incident Management System [1] IS-100.C: Introduction to the Incident Command System [2] Approximately 14 additional courses are available on selected topics. Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), initially created under President Jimmy Carter by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders on April 1, 1979. The agency's primary purpose

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1728-459: The RFC was to lend money to banks and institutions to stimulate economic activity. RFC was also responsible for dispensing federal dollars in the wake of a disaster. RFC can be considered the first organized federal disaster response agency. The Bureau of Public Roads in 1934 was given authority to finance the reconstruction of highways and roads after a disaster. The Flood Control Act of 1944 also gave

1782-721: The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987; hazardous materials, under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act . In addition, FEMA received authority for counterterrorism through the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici amendment under the Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996, which was a response to the recognized vulnerabilities of the U.S. after the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995. Congress funded FEMA through

1836-579: The agency was elevated to cabinet rank; this was not continued by President George W. Bush. Witt initiated reforms that would help to streamline the disaster recovery and mitigation process. The end of the Cold War also allowed the agency's resources to be turned away from civil defense to natural disaster preparedness. After FEMA's creation through reorganization and executive orders, Congress continued to expand FEMA's authority by assigning responsibilities to it. Those responsibilities include dam safety under

1890-621: The case of radioactive contamination . This guidance is specified as action guide for Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDD) and Improvised Nuclear Devices (IND) involving high levels of radiation. According to the Federation of American Scientists , during the Cold War FEMA prepared assessments of the likely consequences of a full-scale Soviet nuclear attack on the United States for use in planning mitigation and recovery efforts. FEMA also prepared plans for evacuating major U.S. cities in response to

1944-404: The context of smaller jurisdictions or less complex incident scenarios. It is commonly marked with a green emergency light, so as to be distinguished from a distance. National Incident Management System NIMS defines multiple operational systems, including: NIMS is the result of 40 years of work to improve interoperability in management of an incident. In the 1970s, different agencies at

1998-413: The department. This agency would oversee disasters until its incorporation into FEMA in 1978. Prior to implementation of Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 by E.O. 12127 and E.O. 12148, many government agencies were still involved in disaster relief; in some cases, more than 100 separate agencies might be jockeying for control and jurisdiction of a disaster. Over the years, Congress increasingly extended

2052-540: The different types of emergencies that can occur and how to respond. The campaign messages have been promoted through television, radio, print, outdoor and web PSAs, as well as brochures, toll-free phone lines and the English and Spanish language websites. The Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 added a Surge Capacity Force, which allows the Department of Homeland Security to supplement FEMA employees with additional personnel from various federal departments in

2106-516: The end of the year on FEMA's website. FEMA maintains 23 cadres of various work functions and skillsets to prepare, respond, and recover from various disasters. FEMA's Mitigation Directorate is responsible for programs that take action before a disaster, in order to identify risks and reduce injuries, loss of property, and recovery time. The agency has major analysis programs for floods , hurricanes and tropical storms , dams, and earthquakes . FEMA works to ensure affordable flood insurance

2160-485: The entire incident. They direct the workings of the incident. The command staff help the incident commander with running an incident when the incident becomes bigger than the IC can handle alone. The three positions within the command staff include: The General staff do the work like writing IAPs or requesting and documenting resources. Like command staff, these positions can be filled as needed. The four main general staff positions are: Another general staff position that

2214-536: The event the agency is overwhelmed. The Force has been activated for Hurricane Sandy , Hurricane Harvey , Hurricane Irma , Hurricane Maria , and the 2017 California wildfires . The Stafford Act was amended by the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act) in 2006, and the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) in 2018. FEMA was put in charge of procuring medical supplies during

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2268-672: The first such federal agencies was the Federal Civil Defense Administration , which operated within the Executive Office of the President . Functions to administer disaster relief were then given to the President himself, who delegated to the Housing and Home Finance Administration. Subsequently, a new office of the Office of Defense Mobilization was created. Then, the new Office of Defense and Civilian Mobilization, managed by

2322-501: The initial stages of a response, FEMA will, as part of the whole community, focus on projected, potential, or escalating critical incident activities. The NRCC coordinates with the affected region(s) and provides needed resources and policy guidance in support of incident-level operations. The NRCC staff specifically provides emergency management coordination, planning, resource deployment, and collects and disseminates incident information as it builds and maintains situational awareness—all at

2376-564: The local, state, and Federal levels got together and created FIRESCOPE , which is the precursor to NIMS. Incident Command System and Multiagency Coordination Systems are both part of FIRESCOPE. In 1982, the authors of FIRESCOPE and the NWCG created the National Interagency Incident Management System to help make different operational system guidelines applicable to any incident and/or hazard. Many communities adopted

2430-485: The nation more vulnerable to known hazards, like hurricanes . After allegations of mismanagement during Hurricane Katrina, the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) was transferred from the Department of Homeland Security to the Department of Health and Human Services by the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act , signed by President George W. Bush on December 18, 2006. In fall 2008, FEMA took over coordination of

2484-672: The national wireless emergency system by FEMA was broadcast to an estimated 225 million electronic devices at 14:18 EDT on October 3, 2018. The text message was accompanied by a flashing warning sign and warning tone. The president may direct FEMA to broadcast such alerts only for national emergencies or if the public is in danger. The facility may not be used for personal messages from the president. Mobile phone owners can not opt out of these warnings. On August 1, 2008, FEMA released "Planning Guidance for Protection and Recovery Following Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) and Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) incidents", which provide an action guide in

2538-1071: The national-level. FEMA maintains the NRCC as a functional component of the NOC for incident support operations. An example of NRCC activity is the coordination of emergency management activities that took place in connection with the 2013 Colorado floods . Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMAT) provide medical care at disasters and are typically made up of doctors and paramedics. There are also National Nursing Response Teams (NNRT), National Pharmacy Response Teams (NPRT) and Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMAT). Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Teams (DMORT) provide mortuary and forensic services. National Medical Response Teams (NMRT) are equipped to decontaminate victims of chemical and biological agents. The Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces perform rescue of victims from structural collapses, confined spaces, and other disasters, for example, mine collapses and earthquakes. These teams provide communications support to local public safety. For instance, they may operate

2592-513: The range of covered categories for assistance, and several presidential executive orders did the same. By enacting these various forms of legislative direction, Congress established a category for annual budgetary amounts of assistance to victims of various types of hazards or disasters, it specified the qualifications, and then it established or delegated the responsibilities to various federal and non-federal agencies. In time, this expanded array of agencies themselves underwent reorganization. One of

2646-559: The resources and making sure they are qualified and capable for the job. This process also involves finding out what the resources are most useful for. Resource management during an incident involves keeping track of resources, requesting resources, and demobilizing resources. Mutual aid is when there is a document and/or agreement between jurisdictions to help each other by sending needed resources. NIMS runs on 14 principles of management to help incident management run smoother. The 14 principles include: The Incident Command System (ICS)

2700-437: The several singular functions; FEMA was created to house civil defense and disaster preparedness under one roof. This was a very controversial decision. FEMA was established under the 1978 Reorganization Plan No. 3 and was activated by President Jimmy Carter in an Executive Order on April 1, 1979. In July, Carter signed Executive Order 12148 shifting disaster relief efforts to the new federal-level agency. FEMA absorbed

2754-533: The vision of further unification of functions and another reorganization could not address the problems FEMA had previously faced. The "Final Report of the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina", released February 15, 2006, by the U.S. Government Printing Office, revealed that federal funding to states for "all hazards" disaster preparedness needs

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2808-712: The waiving of duties and tariffs to the merchants of New York City after the Great Fire of New York (1835) . After the collapse of the John T. Ford 's Theater in June 1893, the 54th Congress passed legislation compensating those who were injured in the building. After the start of the Great Depression in 1929, President Herbert Hoover had commissioned the Reconstruction Finance Corporation in 1932. The purpose of

2862-677: Was absorbed into DHS effective March 1, 2003. As a result, FEMA became part of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate of Department of Homeland Security, employing more than 2,600 full-time employees. It became Federal Emergency Management Agency again on March 31, 2007, but remained in DHS. President Bush appointed Michael D. Brown as FEMA's director in January 2003. Brown warned in September 2003 that FEMA's absorption into DHS would make

2916-482: Was not awarded unless the local agencies made the purposes for the funding a "just terrorism" function. Emergency management professionals testified that funds for preparedness for natural hazards were given less priority than preparations for counter-terrorism measures. Testimony also expressed the opinion that the mission to mitigate vulnerability and prepare for natural hazard disasters before they occurred had been separated from disaster preparedness functions, making

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