The Responsibilities of FEMA in a Disaster Area

6/14/2022 (Permalink)

The Responsibilities of FEMA in a Disaster Area

The Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA responds to all declared domestic disasters and emergencies. This could include natural weather events such as hurricanes and tornadoes, or it could include man-made catastrophes such as wildfires or even terrorist acts. The agency has responded to many large disasters in recent years, including hurricanes in New Orleans, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and New York and New Jersey. The agency separates dealing with disasters into four stages:

• Mitigation
  
• Preparedness
  
• Response
  
• Recovery
  
  

As a common and recurring problem, rising waters are one particularly challenging aspect of disaster management. Dangerous water events occur in nearly every part of the country.

The Elements of Effective Flood Response and Recovery
The first part of a response after a major storm deals with treating injured individuals and rescuing those in trouble. This can tax community resources, so FEMA is often instrumental in bringing in outside help. These include first responder personnel as well as managing and arranging assistance in the form of food and shelter. Providing valuable information to the community is also a critical role at this time.
The recovery stage that follows includes the use of a professional storm mitigation franchise that has access to significant corporate resources. Industrial equipment such as water vacuums, pumps, and dryers all help mitigate flooding damage. Highly-trained technicians assess the situation for each impacted homeowner in Etowah, NC, and come up with an effective recovery plan.

The Final Stage
Damaged structures are rebuilt using knowledge obtained in other disasters and using the best practices of the restoration industry. Financial burdens are also addressed at this time, as organizations help individuals find funding in the form of loans or grants. Many government agencies work to find resources for homeowners who did not carry insurance, and a disaster declaration often provides additional funds. FEMA plays a coordinating role in helping the country deal with large-scale disasters.