Emergency Preparedness

An Independent Team to Decode Government

GovFacts is a nonpartisan site focused on making government concepts and policies easier to understand — and government programs easier to access.

Our articles are referenced by trusted think tanks and publications including Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, The Hill, and USA Today.

All Articles on Emergency Preparedness

What FEMA Does When There’s No Disaster

When the Federal Emergency Management Agency appears in the national consciousness, it is almost always framed by disaster: officials in…

FEMA Regions: How the US Is Divided for Emergency Response

During disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, floods, earthquakes, the immediate response comes from local firefighters, police, and emergency managers. When…

The Stafford Act Explained: How FEMA Responds to Disasters

When a hurricane, wildfire, or flood overwhelms a community, the arrival of federal assistance often seems like a given. The…

FEMA Coordination with State and Local Governments

When a hurricane makes landfall, a wildfire rages through a community, or an earthquake shatters a city, the immediate response…

FEMA vs. Red Cross: What They Do and How They Differ

After a disaster, you'll hear about FEMA and the American Red Cross. While both are vital to the nation's response…

FEMA Guide: Mission, Programs, and Disaster Response

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as FEMA, is the United States government's lead agency for handling domestic crises. Its…

How FEMA Was Created

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, coordinates the federal government's disaster response. When hurricanes, floods, or wildfires strike, the…

Did FEMA Cuts Affect the Response to the Texas Floods?

In the pre-dawn hours of July 4, 2025, catastrophe struck the Texas Hill Country. A stalled storm system, powered by…