The Armed Forces in Disaster Relief

Abstract

Although the basic responsibility for disaster relief lies with civil agencies, national, state, local, and private, the Armed Forces, because of their mobility and organization, are frequently utilized to lend urgently needed aid in emergency situations. National disaster relief, including military, is authorized by the Federal Disaster Act of 1950 and co-ordinated by the Federal Civil De fense Administration when the President declares a "major disaster." However, compelling humanitarian requirements inevitably put the military relief machin ery in action the moment disaster strikes. The magnitude of several recent dis asters has widened the scope of Department of Defense relief. Beyond the prompt emergency aid rendered, under the authority of the 1950 Disaster Act the Department has helped in postdisaster rehabilitation of public works and basic production facilities in disaster areas.—Ed.