-
Nixon signs in the Disaster Relief Act of 1974
President Nixon signs the bill after a year of terrible tonados tore through the middle part of the country. -
Jimmy Carter signs in Reorganization Plan Number 3
President Jimmy Carter transmitted to Congress the Reorganization Plan Number 3 (3 CFR 1978, 5 U.S. Code 903) -
FEMA is born
The Federal Emergency Management Agency was officially established by Executive Order 12127 -
John Macy heads FEMA
There was not a specific date, but in August of 1979, John Macy was appointed by President Carter to become the director of FEMA. -
New Director
President Reagan appoints Lous O. Giuffrida as Director of FEMA. -
A Fresh Start
After allegations of misuse of federal funds and a congressional investigation, Director Giuffrida resigned and Reagan appointed General Julius Becton to become the new director. Becton is credited with restoring integrity to FEMA. -
Stafford Act signed
The Robert T. Stafford Act is signed in and specifies what responsibilities are delegated where in case of a federally mandated disaster. -
Hurricane Hugo hits South Carolina's Coast
FEMA took a hard hit with this hurricane. They were ill prepared and questions of whether or not FEMA was needed began to swirl again. -
Loma Prieta Earthquake
The Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 hit as the World Series kicked off. Again, FEMA was not prepared for the catastrophe fueling the questions of the agency' validity. -
James Lee Witt becomes director of FEMA
After many troubling years, Clinton appoints James Lee Witt as the FEMA director and he breathes some much needed life into the agency and creates a positive image of FEMA. -
The Midwest Floods of 1993
The Midwest Floods of 1993 began and FEMA turned around their image under new director James Witt. The succssful response became a positive image in the pulic's eyes. -
Oklahoma City Bombings
The Oklahoma City Bombings brought about a new view of emergency management. The bombing represented a turn in the emergency management field as terrorism had to be included in preparedness now. -
September 11, 2001
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 showed just how prepared FEMA was as they activated operations within minutes of the events. -
The Department of Homeland Security
President Bush signed in the Homeland Security Act of 2002 which included FEMA. -
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was yet another black eye in the face of FEMA. The slow and lack of response was seen nation wide as a mistake that cost lives. -
Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006
The Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 was the first major piece of legislation to come out of the Katrina hurricane that rocked the nation for over a year.
