# Presentation: 913976

## Historical Overview of E.M.

- Pre-World War II--Ad Hoc Disaster Relief Era
- Post-World War II--Preparedness Era
- Response and Recovery Era
- Mitigation Era

## Pre-World War II Era

- No continuous Federal Government Role
- Congressional Disaster Relief Bills: ~100
- Civil Defense Councils created in WW I
- 1928 Lower MISS. Flood Control Act
- 1933 Earthquake Measure
- 1934 Highway Damage Repair
- 1936 National Flood Control Act

## World War II Civil Defense

- In Department of War--Focused on:
- Air raid watch, warning, alert systems
- Rescue units
- Shelter management
- Public Information
- Volunteer Training

## Early Post World War II 

- Refusal to implement Federal program
- International Atmosphere Sours
- Federal Civil Defense Administration, 1950

## Disaster Relief Act of 1950

- Permanent Disaster Relief Program
- Philosophy--Supplement S&L Efforts
- Funding for State/Local Govt only
- Cost-Sharing Introduced
- Authority to Declare -- The President

## Civil Defense Policy Changes

- Blast Shelter Program Proposals
- Evacuation Program Proposals
- Evacuation Policy Questioned
- Joint Federal-State/local Responsibility
- 50/50 Matching P&A Program
- Fallout Shelter Program

## President Kennedy and CD

- CD as Insurance Policy-Deterrence Failure
- Identify Existing Fallout Shelter Space
- License, Mark and Stock Shelters
- Upgrade Sub-Standard Shelter Spaces
- Construct Shelters in Deficit Areas
- Home Shelter Construction Information

## 1960s and 1970s

- Dual-Use
- Hurricane Camille
- Crisis Relocation Planning
- Tropical Storm Agnes
- National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act
- National Governor’s Association Report on E.P.
- Three Mile Island

## Governor’s Association Rpt

- Consolidate Disperse Federal Programs
- Greater State/Local Fund Discretion
- Adopt Comprehensive Emergency Mgmt.
- Mitigation & Recovery--Greater Attention

## 1979:  FEMA Created

- Consolidating Myriad Federal Programs
- Prime Role in Federal Disaster Policy
- Coordinator of Federal Disaster Response
- All-Hazards Approach comes to the fore

## 1980:  Superfund LawLocate, Investigate, Clean-Up Worst Sites

- Established prohibitions/requirements for closed/ abandoned hazardous waste sites.
- Provided for liability of those responsible for releases of hazardous waste sites.
- Established clean-up trust fund where no responsible party found.

## 1986:  CERCLA SARA Title III

- Look for permanent/innovative solutions.
- Consider other Environmental laws.
- New Enforcement authorities.
- More State involvement.
- More focus on human health problems.
- Increased size of trust fund to $8.5 billion.
- Greater citizen participation--LEPC’s

## CD:  Going, Going -- Gone

- 1980:  Title V, Civil Defense Act of 1950
- 1982:  President Reagan $4.2B NSDD
- 1983:  IEMS
- 1987:  Presidential Policy Guidance-Surge
- 1993:  Civil Defense Act Abolished

## Disaster Response Era

- 1988 Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act
- 1989: Hurricane Hugo Criticism
- 1990:  Federal Response Plan Draft
- 1992:  Hurricane Andrew Criticism

## James Lee Witt Era

- Mitigation to the Forefront
- Reforms Disaster Relief Apparatus
- Customer Service Becomes FEMA Priority
- Project Impact--Disaster Resistant Comn.