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Three Mile Island Accident
Although the accident occurred before the formation of FEMA and there was were deaths or injuries the effect of the disaster was that it perhaps even furher influenced the formation of the agency. -
Executive Order 12127
FEMA was created with John Macy as its first director. FEMA absorbed the Federal Insurance Administration, National Fire Prevention and Control Administration, National Weather Service Comunity Preparedness Program, Federal Preparedness Agency of the General Services Administration, and the Federal Disaster Assistance Administraion activities from HUD. -
Love Canal
Originally planned to be a canal to connect the Niagara River to Lake Ontario. The dig site of the canal turned into a dump site for municipal waste from the City of Niagara Falls and for the U.S. Army used it for some waste from the Manhattan Project. This was one fo the first challenges the infant agency FEMA must face when residents of the area became contaminated. -
Loma Prieta Earthquake
This earthquake had struck in the San Francisco Bay Area and killed 63 people while it had injured 3,757 and left up to 12,00 people homeless. During this time the communities had to turn to the federal government for aid. -
Hurricane Andrew
Damaged both Florida and Louisiana causing about $26.5 billion in damage. This event had focused major national attention at FEMA for aid. -
James L. Witt named new director
Clinton nominated Witt to be the new director of FEMA. A remarkable milestone because Witt was the first director that was once a state emergency manager. Witt also began many reforms that focused and streamlined disaster relief and recovery operations and added emphasis to to preparedness and mitigation. -
September 11th Attacks
In the same year President Bush had appointed Joe M. Allbauhg as the new diector of FEMA months before the attacks. The attacks had then focused the agency on issues of national preparedness and homeland security. FEMA coordinated its activities with the Office of Homeland Security. The Office of National Preparedness, a FEMA division, was given the responisbility to ensure that all of the nations first responders were trained to deal with weapons of mass destruction. -
Department of Homeland Security Formed
FEMA joined in 2003 along with 22 other federal agencies. Under Secretart Tom Ridge the DHS coordinated an approach to national security, emergencies and disasters both natural and man-made. -
Hurricane Katrina
With 1,833 people confirmed dead as a result of the hurricane and a damage count of $108 billion, Hurrican Katrina is considered the worst natural disaster in United States history. FEMA is oftne ridiculed for its slow response and lack of resources in reference to providing aid to everyone who was effected. -
Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act
Signed into law by President George W. Bush in order to attempt to remedy the gaps in the response to hurricane Katrina. Attempt to make FEMA well rounded in preparation for both national security and natural disaster emergencies.
