FEMA Employees Share Insights as Agency Marks 45 Years of Service
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently marked its 45th anniversary. The agency, which has a dual mission of civil defense and disaster response and recovery, was established by President Jimmy Carter by executive order on April 1, 1979, and focuses on helping communities before, during, and after an emergency.
“As our agency continues to grow and adapt to the needs of our country, I also challenge my team to keep leaning forward, improving our existing programs, harnessing new technology, and positioning ourselves for the increasing frequency and severity of disasters,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.
In the news release celebrating the anniversary, FEMA highlighted some of the various work done by employees responding to a myriad of disasters like hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and explosions noting that over the decades workforce has “attracted unique individuals from every corner of the nation and all walks of life.”
One of the virtues highlighted was teamwork among FEMA employees.
“When I meditate on the work we do, I think about what each of our actions mean when we process cases, and it leads me to the conclusion that there is nothing I can do alone as an isolated entity, or to take an undeserved credit,” said John M. Acosta Ayala, a Region 2 Emergency Management Specialist with six years of service at FEMA.
Other workers highlighted FEMA’s diversity.
“I have never worked with such a caring, compassionate and diverse group of people. We are all on the same mission to assist survivors before, during and after a disaster. It warms my heart to witness the skillset each of us brings, to be able to assist all the communities during the most-difficult times in their lives,” said Christina Gonzales, a Region 6 Training and Administrative Specialist with six years of service at FEMA.
Others spoke about finding purpose in FEMA’s mission.
“Once I started taking calls and speaking with disaster survivors, I knew I had found my home, and this is where I would remain for the duration of my working life! I so enjoyed working with these wonderful people who had been affected by disasters, and being able to help them, even if only in some small way to begin their recovery process and at the end of each day, no matter how busy or how stressful things might have been, I felt fulfilled,” said Donna Knupp, Region 3 Training Specialist in the Cadre Management and Training Branch, with six years of service at FEMA.
And Rob Long, Director of the Office of the National Advisory Council, focused on FEMA’s goal of attracting the next generation of emergency responders.
“Thanks to the trust that FEMA has placed in me as director of my tiny office, since 2020 I have hosted 12 university interns. It is my pleasure to introduce them to the important work of the NAC and to entice them to join FEMA. I now experience great satisfaction from my two favorite professional roles: helping improve disaster outcomes, and personally recruiting the next generation of emergency managers,” said Director Long, who has seven years of service at FEMA.