Highlights
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 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,...
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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National Emergency Alert Test Held Wednesday
KTLA NewsLOS ANGELES -- "This is a test. This is only a test." Millions of Americans heard that warning at 11:00 a.m. PT Wednesday. It marked the first-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System that would enable the president to address the public...Tags: Television Industry, Radio, Entertainment, Orson Welles
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Evacuations Underway as East Coast Braces for Hurricane Irene
CNN/KTLAMIAMI, FL -- Hurricane Irene intensified into a Category 3 storm Wednesday as it battered the Bahamas and threatened to lash much of the United States' East Coast in coming days. Irene could reach Category 4 strength by Thursday, the National Hurricane...Tags: Kill Devil Hills, Hurricane Katrina (2005), Dominican Republic, Disasters and Accidents, Miami (Miami-Dade, Florida)
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Joplin Tornado Death Toll Rises to 138
CNNJOPLIN, Missouri -- The death toll from the May 22 Joplin, Missouri tornado rose to 138 Thursday, after hospitals confirmed four additional deaths from injuries, state officials said. The death toll Wednesday stood at 134. State officials Wednesday...Tags: Relief and Aid Organizations, Minneapolis, Disasters and Accidents, Minnesota, Vehicles
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Obama Could Send Text-Message Warnings Under New System
KTLA NewsNEW YORK (KTLA) -- The FCC is expanding its familiar emergency alert system notifications sent over TV and radio to now include a text-message system that includes the potential for presidential warnings for impending emergencies. The Personal...Tags: Government, AT&T Corp., New Products, Disasters and Accidents, Heads of State
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San Onofre Nuclear Plant Passes Safety Drill
KTLA NewsSAN ONOFRE (KTLA) -- Last week's emergency drill at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station was successful on all counts, officials said Friday. The biennial drill involved mock emergency incidents such as a reactor leak, fires and cracked cooling...Tags: Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (2011), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Japan, Health, Earthquakes
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Tsunami Waves Reach 7 Feet in Hawaii, No Major Damage
CNNHONOLULU , Hawaii -- The ripple effect of Japan's deadly earthquake and tsunami appeared Friday to spare Hawaii and the U.S. mainland from major damage, although it damaged vessels and washed fish up on the shore in Maui. A tsunami warning in Hawaii...Tags: Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (2011), Japan, Earthquakes, Honolulu, Local Government
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Tags: Cruises, Cruise Line Ports, Disasters and Accidents, Tourism and Leisure, Disasters
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Tags: Colorado Springs, Lungs and Airways, Wildfires, Weather Reports, Disasters and Accidents
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Storm Season Could Be 'Extremely Active' With up to 14 Hurricanes
KTLA NewsMIAMI -- The Atlantic hurricane season will likely be a busy one that may spawn as many as 23 named tropical storms, including up to seven major hurricanes, a number that's not likely to be affected by the Gulf oil spill, the U.S. government said...Tags: Water Pollution, Environmental Pollution, Pacific Ocean, Disasters and Accidents, Florida
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OC Haiti Search and Rescue Mission Scrapped
KTLA NewsMARCH AIR RESERVE BASE -- A local search-and-rescue team that was poised to deploy to Haiti has demobilized and will be heading home. California Task Force 5 out of Orange County, a FEMA search and rescue team made up of specialists from various area...Tags: Orange (Orange, California), Orange County (California), Haiti, Haiti Earthquake (2010), California
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LA County Team Unable to Locate Buried Haitian Girl
KTLA NewsLOS ANGELES - Members of a Los Angeles County Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue task force attempted Saturday to rescue a 10-year-old presumed to be trapped under a collapsed school or daycare center in Port-au-Prince but gave up after eight hours,...Tags: CNN (tv network), Anderson Cooper, Port-au-Prince (Haiti), Los Angeles, Haiti
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Disaster Relief Available for Wildfire Victims
PASADENA -- Victims of last weekend's wildfires in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and Santa Barbara counties are eligible for various kinds of assistance under a federal disaster declaration, according to FEMA and the Governor's Office. Disaster...Tags: Apartments, Office and Retail Spaces, Personal Data Collection, Economy, Business and Finance, Government
Nov 9, 2011
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Aug 24, 2011
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Jun 2, 2011
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May 10, 2011
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Apr 16, 2011
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Mar 11, 2011
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Sep 4, 2010
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Sep 9, 2010
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May 27, 2010
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Jan 19, 2010
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Jan 17, 2010
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Nov 23, 2008
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