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New Hampshire Fire
The first time the federal government involved itself with a local disaster occurred when Congress passed legislation to provide financial assistance to a New Hampshire town affected by a devastating fire. -
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
President Franklin Roosevelt created the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to reduce flooding in the region and to create hydroelectric power. -
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The Cold War
The Cold War began. Civil defense programs were established throughout the United States resulting in the building of local bomb shelters to protect communities and their residents from a potential nuclear attack by the Soviet Union. -
National Security Act
This Act addressed the national secuity needs of the nation and established the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). -
The 1950's
Civil defense programs were established throughout the United States resulting in the building of local bomb shelters to protect communities and their residents from a potential nuclear attack by the Soviet Union. -
Establishment of the National Security Agency (NSA) by President Harry S. Truman
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Establishment of the National Reconnaissance Office
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1960's
During the 1960s, the United States was struck by numerous natural disasters: earthquake in Alaska and hurricanes in Florida and Texas, resulting in massive flooding and tremendous loss of life. One hurricane in particular, Hurricane Betsy in 1965, caused damage in the coastal regions of Florida and Louisiana, resulting in the federal government creating the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). -
1970's
The federal government investigated how its emergency management capabilities were organized and by the end of the decade, those capabilities were extremely tested. As part of these reviews, it was concluded that more than 100 federal agencies were involved in some aspect of risk mitigation and disaster recovery. It was a fragmented approach with parallel organizations engaged in turf battles and a confused reaction to disaster management. Governors were particularly sensitive and concerned, so -
FEMA was created
FEMA was created in response to the Three Mile Island nuclear incident. The purpose of FEMA was to managing all of the Nation's disasters. -
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act enacted
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1980's
The early and middle 1980s saw FEMA facing many challenges, but not dealing with significant natural disasters. FEMA continued as a bifurcated and disorganized agency. As the decade came to a close, FEMA was an organization in chaos. In 1989, several devastating events occurred: hurricanes in the Carolinas and Florida and a huge earthquake in the Bay Area of California. FEMA was not prepared to respond and the worst was yet to come. -
1990's
In 1992, one of our nation’s worst natural disasters hit the coast of Florida. Hurricane Andrew caused extensive damage and was one of the most destructive hurricanes ever recorded in our nation’s history. FEMA’s failure to respond was witnessed by Americans all across the country as major news organizations followed the crisis. People wanted and expected the government to be there to assist in this time of need, however, FEMA seemed incapable of carrying out essential government emergency manag -
1993 World Trade Center Bombing
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1993
Upon his arrival in Washington in 1993, President Clinton elevated FEMA to a cabinet-level agency and appointed his former Arkansas colleague James Lee Witt as the FEMA director. Mr. Witt was from a group that had created FEMA–state directors of emergency management–and he assumed his position with the objective of building partnerships and serving the various stakeholders involved in emergency management. -
Subway Sarin Incident
Also known as the sarin attack on a Tokyo subway, specifically the Kasumigaseki Station, Marunouchi Line. -
Oklahoma City Bombing
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Defence Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996
Public Law 104-201, commonly referred to as the Weapons of Mass Destruction Act was enacted after a variety of terrorist attacks at home and abroad. -
The National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) was created
Currently known as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) -
The Hart-Rudman Commision Report
The Hart-Rudman Commission Report, also known as the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century recommended that a National Homeland Security Agency be established. -
9/11 Terrorist Attacks
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PA Governor Tom Ridge was appointed the Director of Homeland Security
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White House Office of Homeland Security was Established
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The Patriot Act was passed
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HSPD-1 Organization and Operation of Homeland Security
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HSPD-2 Combating Terrorism Through Immigration Policies
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HSPD-3 Creation of the Homeland Security Advisory System
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Homeland Security Act proposed
President George W. Bush purposed the legislation known as the Homeland Security Act to establish the Deparment of Homeland Security. It was first introduced and debated in the U.S. House of Representatives. -
The Homeland Security Act
President Bush signed Public Law 107 - 296, also known as the Homeland Security Act, establishing the Department of Homeland Security. The Act call on DHS to develop a "comprehensive national plan for securing the key resources and critical infrastructure of the United States." -
HSPD-4 National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction
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Office of Homeland Security Becomes Department of Homeland Security
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HSPD-5 Management of Domestic Incidents
Included the creation of a National Incident Management Systems (NIMS). -
HSPD-6 Integration and Use of Screening Information
Included the creation of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center (TTIC). -
Legislation signed changing NIMS to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
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HSPD - 8 Strengthen National Preparedness
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HSPD - 7 Critical Infrastructure Identification, Prioritization, and Protection
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HSPD - 9 Defense of U.S. Agriculture and Food
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HSPD - 10 Defense from Biological Weapons
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HSPD - 11 Comprehensive Terrorist-Related Screening Procedures
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HSPD - 12 Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Emplkoyees and Contractors
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HSPD - 13 Maritime Security
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Director of Central Intelligence changed to Director of National Intelligence
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Michael Chertoff replaces Tom Ridge as Secretary of DHS
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HSPD - 14 Domestic Nuclear Detection
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Creation of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence
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Congress reauthorized the Patriot Act
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Hurricane Katrina
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HSPD - 15 On the War on Terrorism (Classified)
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HSPD - 16 On Aviation Security and Threats to Commercial Aircraft (Classified)
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Initial Release of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan
The National Infrastructure Protection Plan, NIPP, was initially released in June 1996 as a framework to ensure the safety of the Nation's infrastructure. This document was later revised in 2009 to meet the evolving needs of the Nation. -
HSPD - 17 National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction (Classified)
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Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act signed into law
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HSPD - 18 Medical Countermeasures against Weapons of Mass Destruction
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HSPD - 19 Combating Terrorist Use of Explosives in the United States
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HSPD - 20 National Continuity Policy
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HSPD - 21 PUblic Health and Medical Preparedness
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Release of the National Response Framework
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HSPD - 23 National Cybersecurity Initiative
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Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative
President George W. Bush issued National Security the Comprehenisve National Cybersecurity Initiative as part of Presidential Directive (NSPD) 54 Cyber Security and Monitoring. -
HSPD - 24 Biometrics for Identification and Screening to Enhance National Security
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HSPD - 25 Arctic Region Policy
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Janet Napolitano replaced Michael Chertoff as Secretary of DHS
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The "Quadrennial Homeland Security Review" study was published
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Presidential Policy Directive PPD - 8 National Preparedness
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2011 Reauthorization of the Patriot Act
Congress extended several provisions of the Patriot Act such as roving wiretaps. -
Blueprint for a Secure Cyber Future published
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Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
States are now required to complete a THIRA to qualify for Homeland Security funding. -
Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996
Also known as the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Act of 1996 -
Federal agenices named in the Homeland Security Act began to move
Almost everyone of the federal agenices named in the Homeland Security Act began to move into the new homeland security department.
