Federal
Emergency Management Agency became part of the Department of Homeland
Security on March 1, 2003.
FEMA is in charge of helping people before and after
a disaster. FEMA is called in to help when the President declares a disaster.
Disasters are "declared" after hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes
or other similar events strike a community. The Governor of the state
must ask for help from the President before FEMA can respond.
FEMA workers help disaster victims find a place to stay
if their homes were damaged or destroyed. FEMA also helps repair homes
and works with city officials to fix public buildings that have been damaged.
as important,
FEMA helps people BEFORE a disaster so they will be ready. FEMA teaches
people how to prepare for a disaster and how to make their homes as safe
as possible. FEMA works with communities to help them build safer, stronger
buildings that are less likely to be damaged. FEMA also trains firefighters
and emergency workers, and runs a flood insurance program. FEMA is part
of the EXECUTIVE BRANCH, which means it reports to the President of the
United States.
Department
of Homeland Security, which includes FEMA, is the newest Cabinet-level
department in the federal government. It was proposed by President George
W. Bush after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and approved by
Congress. The new department brought together 22 different agencies or
federal programs into one. The new department's first priority is to protect
the nation against further terrorist attacks. Tom Ridge, former Governor of Pennsylvania, served as the first Secretary of Homeland Security. On February 15, 2005 the United States Senate confirmed Judge Michael Chertof as the second Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
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