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Congressional Act of 1803
First real act of helping with aid. -
More aid to be given out!
Bureau of Public Roads was given authority to provide funding for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters. The Flood Control Act, which gave the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers greater authority to implement flood control projects. -
Floods
National Flood Insurance Act offered new flood protection to homeowners -
Presidential Declarations
Disaster Relief Act firmly established the process of Presidential disaster declarations -
Executive Order 12127
President Carter merged many separate disaster-related responsibilities. FEMA was created! -
Great national Attention
Hurrican Andrew brought major national attention to FEMA. -
New Director
Witt became the first agency director with experience as a state emergency manager. He initiated sweeping reforms that streamlined disaster relief and recovery operations, insisted on a new emphasis regarding preparedness and mitigation, and focused agency employees on customer service. -
Counter Terrorism
FEMA received authority for counter terrorism through the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici amendment under the Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996 -
FEMA joins Home Land Security
In March 2003, FEMA joined 22 other federal agencies, programs and offices in becoming the Department of Homeland Security. -
Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act
The act significantly reorganized FEMA, provided it substantial new authority to remedy gaps that became apparent in the response to Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, the most devastating natural disaster in U.S. history, and included a more robust preparedness mission for FEMA.