Establishment of independent agency

(a) In general The Federal Emergency Management Agency is established as a cabinet-level independent establishment in the executive branch. (b) Mission The primary mission of the Agency is to reduce the loss of life and property of the Nation from all hazards, including natural disasters and manmade disasters, by leading and supporting the Nation in a comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. (c) Specific activities In support of the primary mission of the Agency, the Administrator of the Agency shall— (1) lead the Nation's efforts to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against the risk of natural disasters and manmade disasters, including catastrophic incidents; (2) to build a national system of emergency management that can effectively and efficiently use the full measure of the Nation's resources to respond to natural disasters and manmade disasters, including catastrophic incidents, partner with— (A) State, local, and Tribal governments; (B) emergency response providers; (C) other Federal agencies; (D) the private sector; and (E) nongovernmental organizations; (3) develop a Federal response capability that, when necessary and appropriate, can act effectively and rapidly to deliver assistance essential to saving lives or protecting or preserving property or public health and safety in a natural disaster or manmade disaster; (4) integrate the emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation responsibilities of the Agency to confront effectively the challenges of a natural disaster or manmade disaster; (5) develop and maintain robust Regional Offices, inclusive of regional disability integration specialists, that work with State, local, and Tribal governments, emergency response providers, and other appropriate entities to identify and address regional priorities; (6) provide funding, training, exercises, technical assistance, planning, and other assistance to build the Tribal, local, State, regional, and national capabilities (including communications capabilities) necessary to respond to a natural disaster or manmade disaster; (7) develop and coordinate the implementation of an all-hazards strategy for preparedness that builds the common capabilities necessary to respond to natural disasters and manmade disasters while also building the unique capabilities necessary to respond to specific types of incidents that pose the greatest risk to our Nation; and (8) identify, integrate, and implement the needs of children, including children within underserved communities, individuals with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations with access and functional needs, into activities to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against the risk of natural disasters and other disasters, including catastrophic incidents, including by appointing a technical expert, who may consult with relevant outside organizations and experts, as necessary, to coordinate such integration, as necessary. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) Catastrophic incident The term catastrophic incident means any natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster that results in extraordinary levels of casualties or damage or disruption severely affecting the population (including mass evacuations), infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, or government functions in an area. (2) Critical infrastructure The term critical infrastructure has the meaning given that term in section 1016(e) of Public Law 107–56 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)). (3) Local government The term local government means— (A) a county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments (regardless of whether the council of governments is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under State law), regional or interstate government entity, or agency or instrumentality of a local government; (B) an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, or in Alaska a Native village or Alaska Regional Native Corporation; and (C) a rural community, unincorporated town or village, or other public entity. (4) Resources The term resources means personnel and major items of equipment, supplies, and facilities available or potentially available for responding to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other manmade disaster. (5) State The term State means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any possession of the United States. (6) Tribal government The term Tribal government means the government of an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, or in Alaska a Native village or Alaska Regional Native Corporation. (7) Vulnerable populations with access and functional needs The term vulnerable populations with access and functional needs means— (A) the elderly, children, and individuals with disabilities (including individuals with mobility, communication, intellectual, and processing disabilities) for whom emergencies may present unique access and functional needs, such as maintaining independence, communication, transportation, supervision, and medical care; and (B) include individuals described in subparagraph (A) who reside in institutionalized settings.