History of Fayette County EMA/911
Historically, we find that there have been federal agencies charged with managing domestic and defense emergencies since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first administration. In the 1950’s the federal government established separate agencies for managing war-related emergencies and relief from natural disasters. During the 1960s and early 1970s, additional federal agencies, taking on various titles based around the theme of civil defense or emergency preparedness operated various program elements of the federal program.
Throughout the years there have been various titles attached to emergency organizations. However the functions and missions have not significantly changed. In 1979, the federal government consolidated all disaster-related agencies into a single organization entitled the Federal Emergency Management Agency and tasked it to coordinate all emergencies relating to natural hazards, defense-related issues, and man-made or technological disasters. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 established the Department of Homeland Security which FEMA became a part of in 2003.
The Emergency Services Code, Act 1978-323, established the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). Its mission assignment is to assure prompt, proper and effective discharge of basic Commonwealth responsibilities relating to civil defense and disaster preparedness operations and recovery.
In the same way, Fayette County has established the Fayette County Emergency Management Agency, The County EMA is not a replacement for, or an addition to, the police, fire, and EMS. Rather it is a system for coordinating and managing these multiple services when all are responding to a community threat.