Elizabeth A. Zimmerman, Associate Administrator, Office of Response & Recovery (ORR), is responsible for directing the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) response, recovery, logistics and field operations programs and operations. ORR’s mission is to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of disaster response and recovery assistance to individuals and communities impacted by major disasters and emergencies. Ms. Zimmerman also fulfills the role of “Director of Disaster Operations” and has ultimate responsibility for coordinating and synchronizing all Headquarters operational response and related activities during major disasters or emergency activations.
Ms. Zimmerman was presidentially appointed and began her FEMA service in June 2009. During her tenure with FEMA, she championed the development, collaboration and publication of the National Disaster Recovery Framework. Beth also coordinated the implementation of the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act (SRIA), one of the most significant changes to FEMA’s statutory authorities in the Agency’s history. In particular, she managed the implementation of direct tribal declarations, authorized under SRIA, and worked to increase the understanding of the challenges facing Indian Country throughout ORR programs.
Ms. Zimmerman oversees approximately 3,000 full-time and 6,200 reservist employees, and is responsible for over $10B annually in Disaster Recovery funds to support states, tribal, territorial and local communities recover from disaster damage. Ms. Zimmerman brings a wealth of state-level emergency management experience to her position at FEMA. Prior to her appointment, she served as the Assistant Director of Recovery for the State of Arizona. Ms. Zimmerman began her passion for emergency management with Utah’s Emergency Management.
Ms. Zimmerman is a graduate of Brigham Young University majoring in Economics.