Q: What is FEMA?
A: An independent agency of the federal government, the Federal Emergency Management Agency marked its 22nd anniversary in the same month that the river towns in eastern Iowa were battling rising flood waters from the mighty Mississippi. Organized in 1979 to serve as the official liaison within the Federal government to guide, lead, coordinate, and manage emergency efforts from the national level, FEMA is committed to helping mitigate hazards and to reduce the loss of life and property when disaster strikes. FEMA works in conjunction with state and local governments, private organizations and volunteer entities to establish an integrated nationwide network of support systems that builds upon the agency’s mission: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
In Iowa, when disaster strikes in the form of fire, flood, tornado, severe winter storm or high winds, families, homes, businesses and entire communities can be devastated by the tragic loss of human life and the economic ruin left behind. In the business of disaster prevention and emergency assistance, FEMA offers federal financial aid and technical support when demand exceeds state and local capacity.
Q: When catastrophe strikes, who decides if the federal government will lend a helping hand?
A: The Disaster Relief Act of 1974 established the process by which a presidential disaster declaration would be made and squarely assigned the governor of each state with the task of making a formal declaration of disaster necessary to request federal assistance. Following the spring flooding and severe weather that hit Iowa in April, the governor requested that the president sign a major disaster declaration for 13 counties, including Allamakee, Buchanan, Clayton, Clinton, Des Moines, Dubuque, Jackson, Lee, Louisa, Muscatine, Ringgold, Scott and Wapello. I backed the governor’s request and urged the president to make the major disaster declaration as soon as possible. As the flood stage recedes along the banks of the Mississippi, emergency management response teams will be better able to assess the full damages and gauge the need for individual and public assistance. Once a presidential disaster declaration is affirmed, some of the federal assistance available to eligible individuals, families and businesses may include: low-interest loans, cash grants, housing assistance, veterans benefits, tax breaks, unemployment benefits, and legal counseling. In the meantime, I applaud the swift action taken by state and local emergency response teams and the crews of volunteers who sandbagged their homes, businesses and communities to safety. Your all-out effort epitomizes Iowa’s stature as a place where neighbors pitch in to help a neighbor in need.