What is the Federal Emergency Management Agency?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, commonly called FEMA, is the federal agency responsible for coordinating federal response to disasters and emergencies in the United States. FEMA was created by President Jimmy Carter through executive order in 1979, consolidating disaster response responsibilities that had been scattered across multiple agencies. After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, FEMA was incorporated into the new Department of Homeland Security in 2003 and continues to operate as part of DHS.

FEMA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and operates 10 regional offices across the United States. The agency employs roughly 20,000 people, including a permanent staff and a much larger pool of disaster reservists who can be deployed when major disasters strike.

FEMA's primary mission is to help people before, during, and after disasters. The agency coordinates federal disaster response through the Stafford Act of 1988, which authorizes the President to declare federal disasters and trigger FEMA's authority to coordinate federal aid. When a major disaster is declared, FEMA can provide individual assistance (including grants for housing, repairs, and other needs to affected residents), public assistance (grants to state, tribal, and local governments to repair damaged infrastructure), hazard mitigation funding (to reduce future disaster risk), and the Disaster Survivor Assistance program.

FEMA also operates the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides flood insurance to roughly 5 million households in flood-prone areas, and administers federal grants to state and local emergency management agencies. The agency runs the Center for Domestic Preparedness, which trains first responders, and the National Emergency Training Center in Maryland.

FEMA's work has been highly visible during major disasters in recent decades. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused devastating damage along the Gulf Coast and prompted significant reforms after FEMA's response was widely criticized. Hurricanes Sandy in 2012, Harvey, Irma, and Maria in 2017, Florence and Michael in 2018, and Helene and Milton in 2024, along with major wildfires in California, Hawaii, and other western states, have drawn FEMA into long-term recovery efforts. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 stretched FEMA's resources and operating model, requiring distribution of medical supplies, vaccines, and disaster aid at unprecedented scale.

FEMA also plays a role in preparedness, encouraging Americans to keep emergency supplies, sign up for emergency alerts, and develop family emergency plans. The Administrator of FEMA is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.