Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the Federal government agency mandated to take a lead in responding to disasters. The agency is under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The agency mission is to help the American citizens before, during and after a disaster strikes. When Tornado hit the State of Kentucky leaving 78 people dead on December 10-11, last year, the Department of Defense led by FEMA was able to coordinate other security agencies in order to help the affected citizens and restore the situation to normalcy (Wear, 2021).
During Kentucky disaster, the National Guards were involved in recovery support, clearing debris and ensuring the affected citizens and their properties were safe. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were on ground to help in debris removal and supporting restoration of critical facilities and infrastructure such as power planning (Vergun, 2021). The National Guard military police were on duty to help control traffic. FEMA led the DHS in distributing foods, blankets and other basic needs to the more than 1000 affected households. FEMA also were on the ground processing claims (Shapiro, 2021).
I think the Army should be reporting to FEMA when called upon to help. This is because it is the FEMA that has the authority to engage the Army. The army should have a commander in every situation it is engaged. This person should be the link between FEMA and the Army. The Army is called upon to provide capabilities that the DHS does not have (Larson, n.d.).
During Kentucky disaster, the National Guards were involved in recovery support, clearing debris and ensuring the affected citizens and their properties were safe. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were on ground to help in debris removal and supporting restoration of critical facilities and infrastructure such as power planning (Vergun, 2021). The National Guard military police were on duty to help control traffic. FEMA led the DHS in distributing foods, blankets and other basic needs to the more than 1000 affected households. FEMA also were on the ground processing claims (Shapiro, 2021).
I think the Army should be reporting to FEMA when called upon to help. This is because it is the FEMA that has the authority to engage the Army. The army should have a commander in every situation it is engaged. This person should be the link between FEMA and the Army. The Army is called upon to provide capabilities that the DHS does not have (Larson, n.d.).
