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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Order on 1 April 1979. The primary purpose of FEMA is to coordinate the response to a disaster that has occurred in the United States and that overwhelms the resources of local and state authorities. The governor of the state in which the disaster occurs must declare a state of emergency and formally request from the president that FEMA and the federal government respond to the disaster. FEMA also provides these services for territories of the United States, such as Puerto Rico. The only exception is when an emergency and/or disaster occurs on federal property or to a federal asset, for example, the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, or the Space Shuttle Columbia in the 2003 return-flight disaster. While on-the-ground support of disaster recovery efforts is a major part of FEMA's charter, the agency provides state and local governments with experts in specialized fields and funding for rebuilding efforts and relief funds for infrastructure, in conjunction with the Small Business Administration. FEMA also assists individuals and businesses with low interest loans. In addition to this, FEMA provides funds for training of response personnel throughout the United States and its territories as part of the agency's preparedness effort. |
![Partial TRANSSCRIPT: This is a brief history of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the civil liberties we have lost because of it. Also, it is a testament to what a government can accomplish when its people are in fear. ---------------------------------------- [clip of the Iran/Contra hearing] JB: "Colonel North, in your work at the NSC. We're you not assigned at one time, to work on plans for the continuity of government in the event of a major disaster?" XX: "I believe this question touches a highly sensitive and classified area, so may i request that you not touch upon that subject sir." JB: "I was particularly concerned Mr chairman, because i read in Miami papers and several others, that there had been a plan, ehhm developed by that same agency, a contingency plan in the event of an emergency, that would suspend the American constitution. And i would be deeply concerned about it, and wonder if thats the area, in wich he had worked." XX: "I most respectively request that that matter not be touched upon at this stage. We wish to get into this on certain arrangements can be made for an excecutive session." ---------------------------------------- The Federal Emergency Management Agency's powers grew under tutelage of people like Lt. Col. Oliver North and General Richard Secord, the architects on the Iran-Contra Scandal. FEMA has been given responsibility for disaster relief, including urban forest fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornado's, refugee situations <b>...</b>](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F8HNd8AEfGs/0.jpg)
