“I thank President Biden for quickly issuing a Federal Emergency Declaration for Texas as we continue to respond to severe winter weather conditions throughout the state,” said Abbott. “This disaster declaration provides Texas with additional resources and assistance that will help our communities respond to this winter weather." (Getty Images) What is FEMA? The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, which came into existence under Jimmy Carter’s presidency in 1979. The agency’s primary focus is to coordinate the response to a disaster in the United States. As per the signed Executive Orders, the governor of the state in which the disaster has occurred must declare a state of emergency and formally request the president that FEMA should respond to the disaster.