FEMA Disaster Response Is At Request of the Governor 

Hurricane Rita's Six-Month Anniversary - 'Doing a 180: From Disaster to Recovery' One in a Series

Release Date: March 23, 2006
Release Number: 1606-172

» More Information on Texas Hurricane Rita

AUSTIN, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has become synonymous with disaster response; however, it is important to remember that FEMA is not the first responder to a disaster.

That task belongs to local emergency managers and services; local government agencies; and local voluntary community and faith-based organizations. FEMA's involvement in disaster assistance is guided by regulations passed by Congress under the provisions of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act).

When a disaster strikes a community, and the situation becomes overwhelming for the local response efforts, the local government can request additional assistance from the state. That often includes exercising area mutual aid agreements and deploying the state National Guard.

Once the local and state resources have become exhausted, the governor can request a federal disaster declaration from the president of the United States based on reports from Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) teams. In most cases, these PDA teams consist of local, state and federal officials. Only when it is determined that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and local governments does FEMA coordinate the response in partnership with and support of the state and local governments.

A federal declaration also allows FEMA to coordinate and direct assistance from all federal departments and agencies which have appropriate resources.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 31-May-2006 14:07:18