FEMA

FEMA stands for Federal Emergency Management Agency, this agency helps people before, during, and after a disaster.  FEMA has been around since 1979 started by President Carter.  During Hurricane Katrina FEMA was criticized for their delay in response to the disaster.  They were late delivering food and supplies, also rehousing displaced residents in toxic trailers.  They also did not order the mandatory evacuation until less than a day before the landfall.

Since Hurricane Katrina congress passed an act allowing FEMA to assist in a disaster without a formal request from a governor.  FEMA also improved disaster communications for emergency personnel, instituted a tracking system for recovery supplies, and placed experienced emergency managers in leadership positions.  We must build upon these changes to ensure nimble disaster response.

Throughout the years the budget for FEMA has significantly increased; however their budget will never reach the actual cost needed for natural disasters.  Katrina itself costed the government 61 billion dollars.  Therefore when there is a natural disaster it causes a significant financial burden on the government which causes taxes to rise.

During Hurricane Katrina FEMA gave options to those who lost their homes from the hurricane and had nowhere to go to pick between a few states to live in.  They then placed these residents in homes and provided them with shelter, food, and water.


here is a video on how FEMA has changed because of Hurricane Katrina

References

“Criticism of Government Response to Hurricane Katrina.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Dec. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_government_response_to_Hurricane_Katrina.


Holly Brown