Management of Hurricanes in the USA.

? Work with state and local officials to determine the scope of the disaster and essential needs in the impacted area;

? Create and staff federal/state Disaster Field Offices and coordinate with other federal agencies under the Federal Response Plan;

? Make disaster aid available;

? Educate the public about preparing for and reducing risk from disasters;

? Fund emergency planning in all 50 states;

? Sponsor emergency preparedness exercises;

? Train firefighters and set firefighting standards;

? Administer the National Flood Insurance Program;

? Credential urban search and rescue teams;

? Develop consequent management plans for domestic terrorism.

Summarise its disaster aid programmes

Disaster Response and Recovery

When it becomes clear that a hurricane or other potentially catastrophic disaster is about to occur, FEMA moves quickly. Equipment, supplies and people are pre-positioned in areas likely to be affected. In other situations, when disasters such as tornadoes or earthquakes occur without warning, FEMA must respond immediately with staff and supplies, and must assess if other federal agencies are needed as well.

FEMA does not respond to every disaster that occurs in the U.S. FEMA responds when a disaster overwhelms a state's resources and is requested by a state governor. Federal disaster declarations are made by the President, and allow the federal government to pay for disaster recovery. Disaster assistance comes from a special fund set up by Congress under the Stafford Act.

Disaster Aid Programs

Individual Assistance: This aid goes to residents for damage to homes and businesses or personal property losses. Residents affected by a federally declared disaster may be eligible for rental assistance, temporary housing, grants to make repairs to disaster-damaged homes, crisis counseling, legal aid and disaster-related unemployment assistance. The U.S. Small Business Administration also provides low disaster loans to help those affected by disaster losses. interest

Public Assistance: This aid goes to state and local governments and certain private non-profit organizations to repair or rebuild infrastructure or public facilities damaged or destroyed by disasters. Schools, public buildings and bridges fall into this category.

FEMA will also help pay for debris removal and emergency services.

Being Ready for Disasters

FEMA coordinates training, exercises and response planning at federal, state and local levels.

These activities help to ensure that when a disaster strikes, emergency managers will be able to provide the best response possible.

FEMA's National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Md., is home to the Emergency Management Institute and the National Fire Academy. There, emergency managers, fire fighters, and elected officials take classes in emergency planning, exercise design and disaster management evaluation, hazardous materials response and fire service management. Educators are also trained to teach youngsters about disaster safety.

Independent Study Courses on disaster preparedness and assistance are available to the general public, and broadcasts are offered via satellite as part of the Emergency Education Network. FEMA also tests emergency procedures and planning with large-scale exercises involving other federal agencies, and state and local officials, and coordinates training and exercises for nuclear power plants and chemical stockpile emergencies.

How does it aim to reduce the risk

Reducing or eliminating the risk of disaster damage before the disaster occurs is called mitigation. Mitigation takes many forms. It can mean removing homes from floodplains, elevating homes above flood level, strengthening buildings to withstand earthquakes and creating and enforcing effective building codes. New technologies and better planning and mapping make it easier for community officials to look ahead and safeguard their residents.

One important mitigation project doesn't save property, but does save lives. Tornado safe rooms - special, reinforced interior rooms - can withstand strong winds that leave the rest of the house in splinters.

Even relatively small mitigation projects can mean a huge difference to homeowners and businesses. For example, hurricane shutters and hurricane straps can help a house withstand high winds, strapping a water heater to the wall can prevent a house fire during an earthquake and elevating utilities above a floodplain can prevent unnecessary damage from high water.

FEMA uses a percentage of disaster assistance money to fund hazard mitigation projects in communities devastated by disasters. Local and state officials and residents develop the mitigation projects they believe will prevent future disaster losses.

What does FEMA suggest you do before, during and after a hurricane?

Before Hurricane Season starts

What other hazards does FEMA cover?

National Hurricane centre - specific details

US weather research programme

Sarah Lee Physical Geography - Mrs. Tuckey

0th March '04