Which federal agency oversees the coordination of disaster response in the United States?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the federal agency designated to oversee the coordination of disaster response in the United States. Its primary role is to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the impacts of disasters, including natural disasters, terrorism, and other emergencies. FEMA works with various federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to ensure a cohesive approach to emergency management, orchestrating efforts during all phases of disaster management.

FEMA's responsibilities include coordinating the unveiling of resources and support during emergencies, offering technical assistance to state and local governments, and providing training and education for responders and emergency managers. This agency also leads disaster response operations to ensure that resources are mobilized efficiently and that communities are supported through recovery efforts.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) play critical roles in specific aspects of disaster response, especially related to public health emergencies, their focus is more on health-related issues and not on the broad coordination of disaster management. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) focuses primarily on biomedical research and does not play a direct role in disaster response coordination. Hence, FEMA stands out as the key federal agency for such responsibilities.