Summary
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is the government's disaster relief agency, charged primarily with responding to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods and acts of terrorism. Based in Washington, D.C., with offices around the country, FEMA has more than 2,600 full-time employees with another 4,000 on standby to respond to disasters.
FEMA was created in 1979, combining several agencies with disaster-related responsibilities. It operated as an independent agency until 2003, when it became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA provides grants to communities for disaster protection measures. After a disaster strikes, FEMA provides financial ass...
FEMA was created in 1979, combining several agencies with disaster-related responsibilities. It operated as an independent agency until 2003, when it became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA provides grants to communities for disaster protection measures. After a disaster strikes, FEMA provides financial ass...
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is the government's disaster relief agency, charged primarily with responding to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods and acts of terrorism. Based in Washington, D.C., with offices around the country, FEMA has more than 2,600 full-time employees with another 4,000 on standby to respond to disasters.
FEMA was created in 1979, combining several agencies with disaster-related responsibilities. It operated as an independent agency until 2003, when it became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA provides grants to communities for disaster protection measures. After a disaster strikes, FEMA provides financial assistance and supplies for recovery and rebuilding. Under its public assistance program, FEMA reimburses local and state governments for expenses including overtime for emergency personnel, debris removal and repairs to public utilities. Individual homeowners and renters are also eligible for assistance for uninsured losses. FEMA came under criticism in 2004 in Florida, which was hit by four hurricanes in six weeks. A South Florida Sun-Sentinel investigation found FEMA awarded more than $31 million to residents of Miami-Dade for a hurricane that missed the county. FEMA even paid funeral expenses for deaths unrelated to the storm.
The Sun-Sentinel investigation found the same patterns in disasters across the country with hundreds of millions of dollars intended for disaster victims going to people who suffered no damage. When the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and the Gulf coast in 2005, FEMA drew widespread criticism for its slow response and massive fraud and waste. In the aftermath of the storm, government investigators found FEMA paid more than $1 billion in fraudulent claims. FEMA's top administrator is R. David Paulison. He was appointed by President George W. Bush and reports directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security. In addition to directing the agency, the Administrator may also be called upon by the President to serve as a member of the Cabinet in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters.
Their offices are located at 500 C Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20472. Questions can be directed to www.fema.gov or call 800-621-FEMA (3362).
FEMA was created in 1979, combining several agencies with disaster-related responsibilities. It operated as an independent agency until 2003, when it became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA provides grants to communities for disaster protection measures. After a disaster strikes, FEMA provides financial assistance and supplies for recovery and rebuilding. Under its public assistance program, FEMA reimburses local and state governments for expenses including overtime for emergency personnel, debris removal and repairs to public utilities. Individual homeowners and renters are also eligible for assistance for uninsured losses. FEMA came under criticism in 2004 in Florida, which was hit by four hurricanes in six weeks. A South Florida Sun-Sentinel investigation found FEMA awarded more than $31 million to residents of Miami-Dade for a hurricane that missed the county. FEMA even paid funeral expenses for deaths unrelated to the storm.
The Sun-Sentinel investigation found the same patterns in disasters across the country with hundreds of millions of dollars intended for disaster victims going to people who suffered no damage. When the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and the Gulf coast in 2005, FEMA drew widespread criticism for its slow response and massive fraud and waste. In the aftermath of the storm, government investigators found FEMA paid more than $1 billion in fraudulent claims. FEMA's top administrator is R. David Paulison. He was appointed by President George W. Bush and reports directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security. In addition to directing the agency, the Administrator may also be called upon by the President to serve as a member of the Cabinet in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters.
Their offices are located at 500 C Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20472. Questions can be directed to www.fema.gov or call 800-621-FEMA (3362).
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Relief on way for flood victims in Smithtown
stacey.altherr@newsday.comHelp is inching closer for flooding victims in Smithtown. In a first step, state and federal agencies have accepted two applications from the town seeking federal funding for work on 10 houses in the Charles Court area of Lake Ronkonkoma. Specifically,...Tags: Tim Bishop, Justice System, Floods, Court Administration
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Doyle asks FEMA for more help
Gov. Jim Doyle wants federal emergency officials to send more help to Wisconsin as the state recovers from June's floods. Doyle met with Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator David Paulison in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. He says he...Tags: Executive Branch, Emergency Planning, Government, Wisconsin, Local Authority
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FEMA asks for lawsuit immunity
NEW ORLEANS The Federal Emergency Management Agency is requesting immunity from lawsuits filed on behalf of Gulf Coast hurricane victims who claim they were exposed to dangerous fumes while living in government-issued trailers. Today, U.S. District...Tags: Hurricane Preparedness, Disasters, Natural Disasters
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City flood repairs in Martinsville cost $1.6M
Martinsville's city engineer says the cost of repairing flood-damaged city property is expected to exceed $1.6 million. Ross Holloway says the most expensive repair will be the removal of sand from the city's storm sewer system. That cost is estimated...Tags: Martinsville (Martinsville, Virginia), Indiana, Floods
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FEMA seeks immunity from suits over trailer fumes
Associated Press WriterThe Federal Emergency Management Agency asked a federal judge Wednesday for immunity from lawsuits over potentially dangerous fumes in government-issued trailers that have housed tens of thousands of Gulf Coast hurricane victims. Lawyers for victims...Tags: Henry Miller, Hurricanes, Indiana, Arkansas, Justice System
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Judge defends position on moldy FEMA homes
Lt. Gov. Patty Judge is defending her request that FEMA send mobile homes that had moldy exteriors out of state to be replaced. City Council officials in Palo and Cedar Rapids had suggested cleaning up the mold, which was found in exterior closets...Tags: Iowa, Indiana, House Building, Justice System, Judges
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Essex Panel Withdraws Proposal For Zoning Change
Courant Staff WriterThe economic development commission has again withdrawn its proposal for a zoning change that would require retail uses for first-floor leases in the downtown village. The panel acted during a public hearing before the zoning commission Monday, at...Tags: Economic Policy, Connecticut, Connecticut Economic Development
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Culver: $1.2 billion in flood damages unmet
Associated Press WriterGov. Chet Culver says that state officials have identified $1.2 billion in flood damage that hasn't been met by disaster aid, and he's asking Congress to move quickly to provide more assistance. Culver pointed to the federal response to Hurricane...Tags: Hurricanes, Iowa, Damages, New York, Parliament
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Ready for a mighty wind
In the first third of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, it's encouraging to see even small signs of preparedness for killer storms. Earlier this month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which did such a subpar job...Tags: Charity, Hurricane Preparedness, Long Island, Emergency Planning, Hurricanes
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Culver to meet with federal officials
Gov. Chet Culver is traveling to Washington to meet with members of Iowa's congressional delegation to talk about flood recovery efforts. Culver was planning to meet on Tuesday with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Federal Emergency Management Agency...Tags: Nancy Pelosi, Iowa
Jul 24, 2008
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Jul 23, 2008
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Jul 23, 2008
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Jul 23, 2008
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Jul 23, 2008
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Jul 22, 2008
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Jul 23, 2008
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Jul 22, 2008
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Jul 21, 2008
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Jul 22, 2008
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