Federalism occurs when groups form an alliance to …show more content…
However, FEMA’s response brought aid and comfort to many survivors. FEMA provided temporary housing and medical treatment through the Individuals and Households Programs (IHP). FEMA provided aid in clearing out debris and help rebuilding through the Public Assistance (PA) program. They provided aid to prevent loss from future disaster through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). It was critical to establish medical response teams as well as search and rescue teams. They provided water, meals, blankets, and temporary housing. (Fugate). They helped communities affected by damaged roads, bridges, sewerage, water, and energy systems. (Ladislaw) They helped sign up more than half a million people for federal aid due to the storm. This complex but organized system helped provide $50 billion in aid to survivors to rebuild after the storm. (Fugate) FEMA also provided mental health counseling to many survivors after the storm. No one job was small. While an entire coastline seemed devastated, the structure and success of this operation handled the situation with as much ease as possible. (“Overview of Federal Disaster …show more content…
Hurricane Sandy would have far exceeded the funds available for aid by the local and state governments. There would have been many survivors unable to rebuild or recover without much needed assistance. When a disaster is pending or hits and a state is unable to provide enough aid locally. In these cases, the Governor of a state can request help from the Federal Government. FEMA will assess the situation and determine if federal aid is needed. This involves consideration of the amount and type of damage, what resources are available at the local level, what insurance funds are available for survivors, and the risk of human life from the disaster. (“Overview of Federal Disaster Assistance”) Using a federal system to approach a situation like this makes sense because a federal government is a stronger system. It is able to operate in a multitude of situations because of the diversity of its functions and the high level of staffing that the program has. Federal assistance is beneficial to our entire country, and helps us remain united, especially when some parts of our country are