Tiffany, Davis, Tremain, & Zach

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security,

initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and

implemented by two Executive Orders. On 1 April 1979.

WHAT IS FEMA?

The primary purpose of FEMA 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.

WHAT DOES IT DO?

There have been many disasters that FEMA has responded to, like:

Hurricane AndrewHurricane Katrina

Buffalo snowstorms

THE EFFECTIVENESS..

In August 1992, Hurricane Andrew struck the Florida and Louisiana coasts with 165 mph (265 km/h) sustained winds. FEMA was widely criticized for the agency’s response to Andrew, summed up by the

famous exclamation, "Where in the hell is the cavalry on this one?" by Kate Hale, emergency management director for Dade County, Florida.

FEMA and the federal government at large were accused of not responding fast enough to house, feed and sustain the approximately 250,000 people left homeless in the affected areas. Within five days

the federal government and neighboring states had dispatched 20,000 National Guard and active duty troops to South Dade County

to set up temporary housing. This event and FEMA's performance was reviewed by the National Academy of Public Administration in its

February 1993 report "Coping With Catastrophe" which identified several basic paradigms in Emergency Management and FEMA

administration that were causes of the failed response.

HURRICANE ANDREW

FEMA received intense criticism for its response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster in August 2005. FEMA had pre-

positioned response personnel in the Gulf Coast region. However, many could not render direct assistance and were

only able to report on the dire situation along the Gulf Coast, especially from New Orleans. Within three days, a large contingent of National Guard and active duty troops

were deployed to the region.

The enormous number of evacuees simply overwhelmed rescue personnel. The situation was compounded by flood waters in the city that hampered transportation and poor communication among the federal government, state and local entities. FEMA was widely criticized for what is seen as a slow initial response to the disaster and an inability to effectively manage, care for and move those trying to leave

the city.

HURRICANE KATRINA

FEMA came under attack for their response to the 13 October 2006 snowstorm in Buffalo, New York. Claims state

that FEMA officials did not arrive until 16 October, three days after the storm hit. The damage by this time included downed power wires, downed trees, and structural damage

to homes and businesses. FEMA responded that as per procedure, the Governor of the state of New York had not

asked for FEMA's assistance. FEMA Headquarters had been in constant contact with State congressional offices

providing them with the latest information available.

BUFFALO SNOWSTORMS

In conclusion, our opinion on the effectiveness of FEMA, is lacking in

response time. FEMA has been criticized multiple times because of their slow

responses in the time when they were most needed.

CONCLUSION

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fema

SOURCES