The purpose of FEMA is to coordinate the response to a disaster which occurs in the United States and which overwhelms the resources of local and state authorities. FEMA was established under the 1978 Reorganization Plan No. 3, and activated April 1, 1979 by President Jimmy Carter in his Executive Order 12127.  In July, Carter signed Executive Order 12148 shifting disaster relief efforts to the new federal level agency. FEMA absorbed the Federal Insurance Administration, the National Fire Prevention and … Continue reading →