Federal agencies help States and localities to recover from disasters by providing services, resources, and personnel to perform necessary functions, such as transporting food and potable water to the area, assisting with medical aid and temporary housing for those whose homes are uninhabitable, and providing generators for electric power to keep hospitals and other essential facilities in operation. FEMA also works with States, territories, and communities during non-disaster periods to help plan for disasters, develop mitigation programs, and anticipate what will be needed when major disasters occur. FEMA provides technical assistance to communities that promote safe and wise land-use planning in designated floodplains as a condition for making Federal flood insurance available to residents in participating communities. The Agency FEMA has 2,400 full-time employees working throughout the country. DAEs help to minimize disruption in routine and ongoing FEMA operations when disaster strikes.
Reservists volunteer their time as a service to the country.
In addition to its headquarters in Washington, D.C., FEMA has 10 regional offices, area offices in Puerto Rico and Hawaii, and several facilities, such as the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and the Mt. Weather Emergency Assistance Center in Round Hill, Virginia. FEMA's job is to lead the Country in developing and maintaining a national emergency management system that helps people protect themselves, their families, homes and businesses from all hazards. Builds preparedness by ensuring adequate plans are in place for the continuation of essential government functions during any emergency. A serious disruption of government services could severely hinder emergency management assistance to the American people. Promotes effective land-use planning, building codes and other means to minimize the effects of disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes.