Disaster Preparedness

Emergency Management Perspective

In the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is responsible for government action in preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. FEMA was formed in 1979 as a merger of several agencies with a diverse range of responsibilities, including the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration and the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency. Much of the history of emergency management was characterized by response to disasters, rather than preparedness activities. Early attempts to prevent damage and loss of life from natural disasters included the Flood Control Acts of the 1930s through 1950s, which established and defined the government's role in flood control and authorized flood preparedness and emergency operations. The National Flood Insurance Program, created in 1968, was also an effort to lessen the impact of flood hazards and prevent losses from floods. The Civil Defense program was one of the most important influences on the need to prepare for emergencies. Part of its efforts to prepare for a Cold War attack included education campaigns and the development of evacuation plans. Preparedness and mitigation activities for other hazards became more important in the 1990s as the Cold War ended. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 required that states maintain mitigation plans as a condition for receiving disaster assistance. In 2003, 2 years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, FEMA became part of the Department of Homeland Security, and a renewed prominence of preventing, preparing for, and responding to willful disasters was added to dealing with natural and technological hazards.

Governmental organizations similar to FEMA exist in other countries, such as Public Safety Canada or National Disaster Management of India. Also, the United Nations’ International Strategy for Disaster Reduction aims to reduce disaster-related losses through increasing awareness of the importance of disaster reduction as a component of sustainable development. The World Health Organization also maintains a disaster preparedness and response program to assist countries in preparing for disasters.

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