- 1. All About FEMA By: Sarah Meyer
2. FEMAs Missions and Goals FEMA has been working with many
groupsincluding schools, non-profit organizations,Federal, State
and local areas, faith-basedgroups and general public to meet
theirgoals. FEMAs goal is to stand united toeffectively stand with
the community to helpwith any disaster that may affect the
area.FEMA works within the communities with thegeneral public, to
stand united in the face ofa crisis and to bring help to those who
need itthe most. 3. FEMA has come to the realization that they need
to have the best equipment to help those who need it. Being first
on the scene is an important factor in improving how effective they
are in helping those around them. Having the best equipment and
knowledge how to help during the biggest disasters is also
important to FEMA and they continue to improve and research
regularly. 4. FEMA learned very quickly how one year can test
thestrengths of a company. In 2011 FEMA was stretched to itslimits
with the record amount of disasters and emergencies.FEMA has
learned that even though no one would wish forany disaster let
alone the amount of disasters that happenedin 2011, they need to
prepare for another record amount. 5. A short Video from Tuscaloosa
Tornadofrom 4/27/2011. 6. FEMAis working with many different
communities locally and nationally. FEMA has led the efforts in
National Preparedness goal which is a national vision of how a
country can prepare and work together to different risk that may
happen. 7. FEMA is constantly looking to expand theirknowledge and
their resources to help thosewho need it. With the experience that
FEMAhas been getting over the last couple of yearstheir goals have
been reached and somecould say even doubled with the amount
ofsuccess they have done. FEMA gives a lot ofcredit to the Federal,
state and local supportwithout them they could never haveachieved
such success. FEMA will continue toevaluate each situation and
determine thebest way to they can effectively to the best oftheir
ability. 8. How FEMA first started In 1979 the United States
Department ofHomeland Security created an agency called TheFederal
Management Emergency Agency knownas FEMA. Their purpose was
extremely clear, theywere created to go in after a disaster and
help outwhen the local and state got completelyoverwhelmed and had
very little resources left tohelp out those who needed it. FEMA
could onlygo in to help after that state declared a State
ofEmergency and must submit a request to thepresident to have help
from agencies like FEMA.FEMA can also help out not just inside the
UnitedStates but also to territories of the United Statessuch as
Hawaii. 9. The one exception to thisoccurs if a disaster happens
onFederal Property, an exampleof this would be the 1995Oklahoma
City Bombing. 10. Before FEMA was established in 1979 the
UnitedStates has always had a smaller version but nothingofficial.
Between 1803-1930 legislation was passedover a 100 times for
different states helping themwith relief from different disasters
that those statescould not afford to pay for. 11. Prior to FEMA
there was an agency that cameabout called Reconstruction Finance
Corporation.The RFC was created to help and give financialrelief to
banks and other financial institutions duringa disaster. The Bureau
of Public Roads was givingauthority in 1934 to help give relief
when it came torebuilding public roads after a major disaster. 12.
Organization and Structurewithin FEMA 13. Eventually the government
decided they wanted tohave one agency that housed all the needs
wewould need under one roofso FEMA was created.In 1993 President
Bill Clinton hired James Lee Witt asthe director of FEMA. 14. When
FEMA was first established it was given theresponsibilities to run
the Nations Civil Defense.When the Cold War ended FEMA could now
turn itsattention from the Civil Defense to the NaturalDisaster
Relief. FEMA has joined with 22 otheragencies in order to grow and
expand underHomeland Security. FEMA has not always beensuccessful
in their mission but has taken thoseopportunities to help learn
from their mistakes andteach others how to effectively help quickly
andefficiently to those who need it. 15. FEMA is made up of over
7,400 employees as ofOctober 2011. FEMA has locations located all
overthe United States. There are many componentswithin the FEMA
organization. Within the Office ofAdministration there is National
Advisory Council(NAC). NAC was established after Hurricane
Katrinaand its goal is to help the Federal government bemore
prepared for a natural disaster like this one.NAC advises the
administration inside of FEMA on allemergencies strategies 16. One
component inside of FEMA is the Office of Response andRecovery
(ORR). The Office of Response and Recovery(ORR) provides leadership
to build, sustain, and improve thecoordination and delivery of
support to citizens and State,local, tribal and territorial
governments to save lives, reducesuffering, protect property and
recover from all hazards. 17. Disaster Emergency Communication
Division isanother component to FEMA. DEC specializes in
alltechnical communication between the federalagencies. This
includes law enforcement,firefighters, EMTs, ect. DEC helps
maintain all modesof communication during a disaster to help
bringsupport to those who need it. 18. The Disaster Emergency
Communications Divisionestablishes, maintains, and coordinates
effectivedisaster emergency communications services andinformation
systems critical to FEMAs role incoordinating the Federal
governments response,continuity efforts, and restoration of
essential servicesbefore, during, and after an incident or
plannedevent. 19. The Office of Federal Disaster Coordination is
alsoanother component to FEMA. The Federal Disasteroffice has
assigned Federal Coordinating Officers(FCO) to each site when there
is a major disaster.The mission of the Office of Federal
DisasterCoordination (OFDC) is to lead, train, equip, andmanage
FEMAs Federal Coordinating Officers(FCO) to ensure their
availability for rapiddeployment in response to any disaster;
delivertraining to develop and sustain FCO
professionalcompetencies; and coordinate FCO assignments tomeet the
on-scene needs of FEMA and itsemergency management partners. 20.
FEMA has many moving parts within theirorganization. I did not get
into the whole structure ofwhat makes up FEMA but each part plays a
majorrole before, during and after a disaster. Thesedifferent
structures all work together as one to makeFEMA the successful
agencies that it has becometoday that we see arriving to help those
who needthem. 21. Career Opportunities withFEMA 22. FEMA offers
many different career opportunitieswithin its agency. You can find
anything from apart-time/full time position to 1-4 year temp
position.FEMA has many different branches that are alwayshiring and
looking for people who have the samegoal in mind as they do. 23.
FEMA has a new program called Wounded Warriors.FEMA is looking to
hire those who have served ourcountry. FEMA is working to help
those that haveserved our Nation, including those who have
service-connected disabilities, to find suitable employmentwhile
maintaining a sense of self-worth 24. FEMAs diversity outreach
efforts, including thosedirectly targeted to veterans, have
continued as itworks to remain connected to veterans supportgroups,
as well as education and employmentorganizations. This Agency
realizes the importanceof developing employment opportunities
forveterans and remains committed to this effort. 25. FEMA also has
Operation Warfighter. This is something that I havenever heard of
and was very interested to learn about. This is aprogram that FEMA
has setup that gives temporary jobs to thosewho are currently
serving for our Country who are residing in amedical facility. This
allows the employee to slowly get used toworking back in a civilian
environment without just being thrownback and fending for
themselves. 26. Even though FEMA can not promises a
permanentposition they are kept long enough that it benefitsthese
men and women significantly. This programnot only allows the
candidates to get out of thehospital but to build their resumes,
get workexperience inside a federal agency and to feel likethey are
helping out others who need them. FEMAallows them to work around 20
hours a week andwill also provide transportation to and from
themedical facility with no cost to the candidate. 27. FEMA has
many job opportunities listed on theirwebsite. They make it very
simple to locate thecareer link and to research what openings are
openat that time. Each job posting comes with thelocation, the job
description, the qualifications, andwhat is needed in order to
apply. All you have to dois click on the link and follow the
instructions foreach one. 28. Plans for Before, During andAfter a
Disaster Per FEMA 29. FEMA talks about how there should be actions
thatare taken before, during, and after an event thatare unique to
each hazard. You should alwayshave a plan of what could occur in
your area andhow to prepare for them. You can contact yourLocal
Emergency management office to helpidentify these hazards, and the
local recommendedplans for each one. You should then share this
withall family members, and make sure they are in yourfamily
disaster plan. This is part of one of thebiggest steps in making a
Disaster plan. You shouldalways be informed. Being informed is one
of thebest ways to be prepared. You will not know whatto do, what
youll need, or how to react withoutknowing everything you can about
the hazards thatmight affect your area. 30. Now that you have your
information, youneed to make a plan. Planning in advance helpsyou
know, how you will get to a safe place, contactone another, how to
get back together, and whatto do in different situations. When you
make yourplan, FEMA also suggests that you include youreveryday
lives, such as traveling to school, or work,so that it will be a
realistic situation. You can alsoask your current community, work
place, or schoolswhat their emergency plans are. If they do not,
askif you can discuss getting one put in place. All ofthis is the
same as having a fire escape drill with yourfamily. You need to
plan escapes routes, where tomeet, and what to do afterwards. The
more youtalk about it, and know the plan, the more effectiveit will
be when or if one of these situations occur. 31. The next thing you
have to have is a disaster supplykit. This is just a collection of
basic items yourhousehold may need in the event of anemergency.
This kit should include items that youmight need if you have no
notice of evacuation.These also should include supplies that could
helpsustain you during outages, and times that you areunable to
reach anyone for up to a few days. Youalso have to make sure to
maintain your kit. If youhave items such as canned food, you need
tomake sure they are kept in a cool dry place. 32. You need to keep
an eye on other food to makesure it has not gone bad, such as boxed
food, orcans that look bloated or damaged. You also needto change
your water supplies every six months, andmake sure you write down
and change the dateevery time you change it. You need to know
thatyou should have one gallon of water per person,per day. Lastly,
make sure that you update your kitwhen things change, probably
every year. Your kitsshould always include at least three days
worth ofessential food, and water. Every person in the familyshould
know where this kit is located, and be able tograb it in case you
need to leave quickly. It is also agood idea to have a 24 hour kit
at work. 33. How FEMA responds Duringand After a Disaster 34. After
a major disaster occurs there are a few thingsset up to help get
response teams, and recoveryefforts started. One of them is the
National DisasterRecovery Framework. This is a guide that
enableseffective recovery support to impacted states.There is also
the CERT program which is CommunityEmergency Response Team. This is
a program thathelps educate people about disaster preparednessfor
hazards that may impact their area. They thentrain them in basic
disaster response skills. 35. CERT members can help assist other in
theirneighborhood or workplace for a disaster whenthere are no
professional responders around.Urban Search and Rescue involves the
location,rescue, and initial medical stabilization of
victimstrapped in confined spaces. (4) This group is goodin
multiple situations such as natural disaster, ortechnological
accidents, terrorist activities, andeven hazardous material
releases. 36. How YOU can help FEMA 37. There are a few ways that
you can help. You canvolunteer with an affiliate organization that
isproviding help to survivors. Some of those currentare Hands on
Network, for hurricane Sandy. Youcan also go to Serve.gov/sandy for
opportunities tohelp hurricane Sandy survivors. FEMA is
currentlyfunded by tax payers money. 38. Latest Events the FEMA
hasbeen involved with 39. Most people do not realize that FEMA
covers Indiannations as well. In January 2013, the Eastern Band
ofCherokee Indians suffered from severe storms thatcaused flooding,
landslides, and mudslides. InMarch of 2013, the President declared
it was amajor disaster. One of the biggest disasters in thenews
recently that FEMA was involved with wasHurricane Sandy. According
to FEMA, 256,900affected residents have already registered for
stateand federal disaster assistance through t heirorganization or
the Small Business Association. 40. FEMA is helping with temporary
housing, and grantsto repair or replace storm damaged
residences.They also help provide grants to help replace orrepair
personal property, such as cars. Right nowFEMA has approved more
than $780 million indisaster assistance since Hurricane Sandy. 41.
In February the Presidentdeclared a state of Emergencyfor the state
of Connecticut.This allowed FEMA to go out toprovide relief and to
take awaythe hardship the the snowstorm caused to thesurrounding
areas. FEMAsmission is to support our citizensand first responders
to ensurethat as a nation we worktogether to build, sustain,
andimprove our capability toprepare for, protect against,respond
to, recover from, andmitigate all hazards. 42. Disaster Assistance
website allows you to apply fordifferent relief efforts that FEMA
can supply. Whenyou apply for help from FEMA they will review
yourapplication and send the necessary help that isdeemed required
by FEMA 43. As quoted by Delaware Governor Jack MarkellMSNBC in
Augst 7th, 2011: The Administrationsresponse to Hurricane Irene has
been great; thereare already FEMA first responders on the
groundcoordinating with local first responders, and theyare doing a
great job with response and recoveryefforts. This shows that people
notice howimportant and valuable FEMA has become to ourcountry. We
have come to rely on them whenevera major disaster has rocked our
world and turned itupside down 44. Many people have had a hand in
shaping FEMA to theagency that it is today. FEMA continues to grow
andlearn from their failures to their successes. With eachturn of
event FEMA becomes more and more lookedto as the future of what our
country is about. Helpingthose who need it, when they need it.
