What FEMA Is For
Nowadays, we don't tend to think about FEMA until it's all we think about. And this week, between wildfires in the West and two historically powerful hurricanes, FEMA's responsibilities are center-stage. But FEMA hasn't always been responsible for the government's response to disasters like hurricanes, floods and wildfires.Â
Historian Garrett Graff wrote about "The Secret History of FEMA" for Wired this week. He talks to Bob about the agency's Cold War origins as civil defense in the event of a nuclear attack and how it transitioned to "natural" disaster response. Plus, they discuss the limitations to FEMA's capabilities and why it has such a spotty record. Graff is also author of Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government's Secret Plan to Save Itself -- While The Rest of Us Die.
Songs:
We Used To Vacation by Cold War Kids
