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First real act of helping with aid.
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Bureau of Public Roads was given authority to provide funding for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters. The Flood Control Act, which gave the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers greater authority to implement flood control projects.
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National Flood Insurance Act offered new flood protection to homeowners
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Disaster Relief Act firmly established the process of Presidential disaster declarations
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President Carter merged many separate disaster-related responsibilities. FEMA was created!
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Hurrican Andrew brought major national attention to FEMA.
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Witt became the first agency director with experience as a state emergency manager. He initiated sweeping reforms that streamlined disaster relief and recovery operations, insisted on a new emphasis regarding preparedness and mitigation, and focused agency employees on customer service.
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FEMA received authority for counter terrorism through the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici amendment under the Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996
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In March 2003, FEMA joined 22 other federal agencies, programs and offices in becoming the Department of Homeland Security.
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The act significantly reorganized FEMA, provided it substantial new authority to remedy gaps that became apparent in the response to Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, the most devastating natural disaster in U.S. history, and included a more robust preparedness mission for FEMA.