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October 2004                                                                            Volume 7 - Number 1

 

 

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FEMA Budget...

 

 

                                                                     

FEMA FY2005 Budget

By Brian Baker

 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) now a part of the infantile Department of Homeland (DHS) as part of DHS, FEMA continues its tradition of responding to help disaster victims and those in need whenever disasters or emergencies strike. For the FY 2005 Federal Budget FEMA has requested $7,372 million according to DHS budget brief which can be located at www.dhs.gov. This amount is approximately 18% of DHS total request of $40.2 billion which is an increase of 10% above there comparison resource levels in FY 2004 as the department continues to grow dramatically as it takes control of more and more agencies. FEMA’s budget will see a large increase of about $1,879 million a 34.2% from their FY 2004 budget.

 

FEMA’s budget breakdown in millions is as follows:

 

Disaster Relief Fund and Disaster Loan Programs                                               2,152

 

Office of the Under Secretary; Preparedness, Mitigation, Response, Recovery Programs; Urban Search & Rescue; Administrative &

Regional Operations; Public Health Programs                                               444

 

Mitigation Grant Programs                                                                               170

 

Flood Insurance and Flood Map Modernization

Programs                                                                                                               293

 

Biodefense                                                                                                            2,528

 

National Flood Insurance (Mandatory)                                                         1,787

 

According to the DHS budget brief there will be various new initiatives in the FY 2005 starting with the establishment of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) that will ensure a single coordinated, real-time national capability involving Federal, State, and local governments, Tribal Nations, and citizen participation to effectively deal with emergencies, disasters, and other incidents within the United States.  FEMA start the Incident Management Team (IMT) to act as the core, field-level response teams for major disasters, emergencies, and acts of terrorism.  Another major focus will be the enhancing of Biodefense for the purchase and development of medical countermeasures against weapons of mass destruction with includes Project BioShield which will make give the Federal Government the power to pre-purchase drugs and vaccines, and improving biosurveillance.  The proposed budget will also support FEMA accomplishments in progress including Incident management response teams, the National Emergency Management Base Line Capabilities program, and the Multi-Hazard Flood Map Modernization Initiative. The tragic natural events of recent weeks have demonstrated FEMA clear and necessary role in national system of mitigating against, preparing for, responding to, recovering from disasters and emergencies caused by all hazards and confirmed the need for Federal Funds to our nations emergency preparedness and response.

 

For more information on FEMA and the FY 2005 Budget visit: www.dhs.gov or www.fema.gov