-
First federal level involvement in a local disaster: New Hampshire Fire
In 1803, a congressional act was passed that provided financial assistance to a New Hampshire that had been devestated by fire. This was the first example of the federal government becoming involved in a local disaster.
After this incident, Franklin Roosevelt was the first president who used government to stimulate economy and make significant investment in emergency management functions -
Galveston Hurricane
-
1930s: Disaster Loans
During the 1930s, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and Bureau of Public Roads were given authority to make disaster loans available for repair and reconstruction of certain public facilities after disasters.
Tennessee Valley Authority was crated during this time to reduce flooding in the region. -
Flood Control Act of 1934
Flood Control Act of 1934 gave U.S. Army Corps of Engineers increased authority to design and build flood-control projects.
This act reflected the philosophy that humans could control nature, thereby eliminating the risk of floods. -
End of WWII
World War II ends -
Period: to
The Cold War and the Rise of Civil Defense: the 1950s
Starting from the end of the WW II, Cold War shaped the governments perception of hazards threat.
Civil defense programs proliferated across communities during the Cold War era.
Almost every community had a civil defense director, and some states had civil defense representatives in their government hierarchy,
Federal Support: Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA) was created to support local civil defense efforts. Their main goal was to provide technical assistance. -
Hurricane Hazel
Hurricane Hazel hit Virginia and N. Carolina -
Hurricane Diana
-
Hurricane Audrey
-
Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization
For more details
Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization was created as a result of merger of Office of Defense Mobilization and Federal Civil Defense Administration. -
Period: to
Changes to Emergency Management: the 1960s
-
Ash Wednesday of 1962
-
1964 Alaska Earthquake
-
Hurricane Betsy of 1965
-
National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 was enacted
As with previous disasters, the response was passage of ad hoc legislations for funds.
Congressional interested was prompted by the unavailability of flood protection insurance on the standard homeowner policy. These discussions eventually led to the passage of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 which created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
This also introduced the concept of community based mitigation in pre disaster phase. -
Hurricane Camille in 1969
-
Period: to
The Call for an National Focus on Emergency Management: 1970s
-
Flood Insurance Act of 1972
NFIP became mandatory for homeowner loans -
Disaster Relief Act of 1974
With the enactment of the Disaster Relief Act of 1794, Housing and Urban Development became the lead agency for managing natural disasters through NFIP under FIA and Federal Disaster Assistance Administration.
Defense Civil Preparedness Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were responsible for the military side of emergencies and crises. -
Jimmy Carter's initiative to consolidate emergency preparedness, mitigation, and response activities
President Carter transmitted to Congress the Reorganization Plan Number 3. The intent of this plan was to consolidate emergecy preparedness, mitigation, and response activities under one federal emergency management organization. -
Three Mile Island Accident
The accident fastened the process of creation of FEMA. -
FEMA was officially established
John Macy was appointed as the chief of FEMA.
Macy's task was to unify an organization that was not only phisically but also philophically seperated.
Macy focused on the new concept called Integrated Emergency Management System (IEMS). This is the beginning of All Hazards Approach in EM. -
Period: to
Civil Defense Reappears as Nuclear Attack Planning: the 1980s
-
Louis Guiffrida appointed as the director FEMA
President Reagan appointed Louis Guiffrida as the FEMA director.
Guiffrida focused on Nuclear Attack Planning throughout his term as the director of FEMA. -
Stafford Act of 1988
The stafford Act is put into effect which specified responsibilities that were delegated in the instance of a federally madated disaster. -
Hurricane Hugo
-
Loma Prieta Earthquake
-
Hurricane Andrew
-
James Lee Witt
-
Midwest floods
-
Oklohoma City Bombing
-
FEMA became cabinet level agency
-
Joe Allbaugh became director of FEMA
-
9/11 Attacks
-
DHS was established
Tom Ridge
Michael Chertoff
Napolitano -
Hurricane Katrina
