Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that provides a single
point of accountability for all federal emergency preparedness, mitigation, and
response activities. FEMA's primary purpose is to coordinate the response
to a disaster that overwhelms the resources of state and local governments. It
works closely with these governmental bodies by funding emergency programs and
offering technical guidance and training. In addition, FEMA administers the
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and advises communities on building
codes, emergency response, and floodplain management.