Vikings place LB Ivan Pace on injured reserve and sign LB Jamin Davis off Packers practice squad
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Mohamed Salah played down expectations that he will imminently sign a contract extension and insisted that there is still a long way to go before a deal is struck. The Egyptian starred for Arne Slot 's Reds in an emphatic 5-0 against West Ham United on Sunday afternoon, scoring once and providing two assists at the London Stadium. Liverpool are now eight points ahead of second-placed Nottingham Forest and look to be unstoppable in their quest for Premier League glory. However, fans' joy was tempered by concern that Salah could leave the club in the summer when he spoke about his contract situation in an interview with Sky Sports , saying: ""We are far away from [an agreement]. "I don't want to put something in the media and people start saying stuff, but nothing really has moved on. Now I am focused on the team and hopefully we win the Premier League." Salah will be free to talk to clubs abroad in January and could agree to sign for them in the summer of 2025, and it is concerning that the Reds have allowed his contract to enter its final six months. Liverpool have scored 45 times in the Premier League this season in just 18 games - the most of any team in the division - and Salah has been directly involved in 30 of these goals. His tally of 17 Premier League goals and 13 assists is the most in both categories, beating Erling Haaland and Bukayo Saka respectively. Across all competitions in 2024, Salah has scored 29 goals and produced 23 assists in just 44 games, the most of any player in Europe's big five leagues. Additionally, the attacker has become only the second player to have reached 30 goal involvements in a single Premier League season in fewer than 20 appearances after Luis Suarez reached that total in 19 games in 2013-14, one more than Salah. To their credit, Luiz Diaz and Cody Gakpo have scored 12 and 11 goals respectively for the Reds in all competitions, returns that show Liverpool have capable goalscorers across the frontline. However, Salah has proven time and again that he is Liverpool's main man, and his contributions continue to earn the Reds the points they need to stay ahead of the pack in the title race. It would be an unmitigated failure on Liverpool's behalf if they failed to get the Egyptian to sign a new deal given his outrageous form, and though they may have concerns about his longevity, there are few footballers that can claim to look after their fitness as well as the winger.
{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "dateCreated": "2024-11-27T00:56:25+02:00", "datePublished": "2024-11-27T00:56:25+02:00", "dateModified": "2024-11-27T00:56:24+02:00", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22137/news/featured/ncba-bank-marks-international-mens-day-with-focus-on-health-wealth-and-well-being", "headline": "NCBA Bank marks International Men’s Day with focus on health, wealth, and well-being", "description": "NCBA Bank Rwanda joined the global community in celebrating International Men's Day with a series of activities aimed at promoting men's health,...", "keywords": "", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22137/news/featured/ncba-bank-marks-international-mens-day-with-focus-on-health-wealth-and-well-being" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/11/27/64902.jpg", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/11/27/64902.jpg" }, "articleBody": "NCBA Bank Rwanda joined the global community in celebrating International Men's Day with a series of activities aimed at promoting men's health, wealth, and well-being. The theme for this year's celebration which is globally marked on November 19, was Building a Legacy of Health, Wealth, and Well-being. One of the highlights of the celebration was participation in a car-free day sports and fitness session on November 24, that involved both male and female staff members. The event was proof to the bank's commitment to fostering a healthy and inclusive work environment. This event is a testament to our commitment to promoting the well-being of all our employees, including our male colleagues, said Nicholas Musyoka, acting CEO of NCBA Bank Rwanda. By encouraging a healthy lifestyle and work-life balance, we aim to empower our employees to reach their full potential. Ivan Ingabire, acting Head of Audit and chairperson of Men-Tors, an initiative within NCBA focused on male staff supporting and mentoring their counterparts emphasized the importance of mental health and emotional well-being for men said, We want to create a supportive environment where men feel comfortable discussing their challenges and seeking help when needed. By breaking down stereotypes and encouraging open dialogue, we can promote better mental health outcomes for men. NCBA Rwanda also offers a range of initiatives to support the well-being of its male employees, including the “Man Enough” program, which provides men with tools and resources to address mental health challenges, and 14-day paternity leave, which allows new fathers to bond with their children and support their partners. Shillah Atukunda, Credit Administration Officer at NCBA Rwanda, expressed her enthusiasm for the event. It's great to see the bank taking the initiative to celebrate International Men's Day. This event not only promotes men's health and well-being but also fosters a sense of camaraderie and teamwork among all employees. The day concluded with a barbecue, providing an opportunity for staff to relax, socialize, and celebrate their achievements. By organizing these activities and implementing supportive initiatives, NCBA Bank Rwanda has demonstrated its commitment to promoting the well-being of its male employees and creating a positive and supportive work environment. About NCBA Bank Rwanda NCBA Bank boasts a substantial regional footprint, operating across several key African markets. With a strong presence in countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Ivory Coast, the bank has established itself as a leading financial institution in the region. The Bank operates through a network of branches and digital channels, with the core activities being lending, deposit-taking, payment processing, foreign exchange trading, treasury management, risk management, and customer service. For queries please contact +250788149500 Email: contact@ncbagroup.com", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "The New Times" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }
For the better part of the past century-plus, Rotax has been one of the most prominent names in the small aircraft engine market. While the company has changed its base of operation several times since its founding in 1920, Rotax has never wavered in its dedication to producing powerful, reliable engines for vessels like light aircraft and single-engine airplanes . If Rotax bosses have their way, the company will no doubt continue in that endeavor throughout the Century ahead. Over the years, Rotax has developed and manufactured dozens of different engines that have helped light aircraft enthusiasts and airplane home builders across the globe take to the skies. Of course, the aviation game is a far cry from what it was 100 years ago. As times have changed, so too have the power needs of even the smallest of aircraft. Rotax has, in turn, continued to refine its own engines to meet the needs of the times. The company has expanded the reach of its engine market, having developed powerful builds for other small vehicles like snowmobiles, jet skis, and side-by-side UTVs. They've even powered KTM motorcycles . At the moment, the manufacturer continues to build engines to meet the needs of vehicles in all of those market segments. And yes, a few of those engines rank among the most powerful Rotax has ever made. Given Rotax's long history of manufacturing engines for aircraft, it seems only fitting to begin with one of the more powerful offerings in its current lineup of builds made to give flight to light airplanes. Among the offerings in that line, the 915 iS engines are pretty punchy, to say the least, offering light aircraft aviators an impressive 141 horsepower at 104 Kw. Most Rotax aircraft engines are largely designed for 600+ weight class CS-23 and CS-24 models, and the 915 iS models are no different. This four-stroke piston build also boasts four air and liquid-cooled cylinders and is touted alongside other Rotax engines as boasting best-in-class power-to-weight ratio. Yes, Rotax's 915 iS engine is also equipped with a turbocharger, which is largely responsible for its robust power output. The engine also offers 12 or 24-volt electric starter options and packs a 24v power supply that can produce up to 800w of energy, leaving plenty of room to power vital instruments and potentially even an extra gadget or two. The 915 iS also comes with an Engine Management System (EMS) that should help with fuel economy and overall performance, an option that will no doubt be of use when operating at a maximum altitude of 23,000 ft. And with an estimated TBO (Time Between Overhaul) of 1200 hours, this Rotax should safely keep your plane in the sky for years before it's time for a revamp. Just FYI — the 915 iS is not currently the most powerful engine in Rotax's small aircraft line. That title actually belongs to the 916 iS/c, which, at a surface level, has a lot in common with the 915 iS. For instance, the 916 is also a four-stroke piston design with four air and liquid cooled cylinders. It also comes with redundant electronic fuel injection and a turbocharger, as well as an EMS, an electric starter, and a 24-volt power supply that might allow for extra creature comfort in the cockpit. Apart from those similarities, the 916 iS/c is a very different animal, and, unlike the two-seat friendly 915 iS, it is designed with 4-seat aircraft in mind. Yes, that means the 916 iS/c requires a little more power than its counterpart and is capable of pushing the ponies up to 160 HP while producing up to 142 ft-lb of torque. Perhaps more impressive than that uptick in power is that Rotax's engineers managed to deliver it without adding too much weight, with the 916 iS/c clocking in at 85.8 kg (or about 189 lbs) to the 915's 82.2 kg (or 181 pounds). Those stats have led Rotax to label its potent 916 iS/c as both a "milestone" and a "masterpiece" of small engine ingenuity. It's easy enough to see why they're so proud of the build, particularly as it also boasts a TBO of 2,000 hours. As noted, even as the aviation arena remains a sweet spot for Rotax, the company has indeed looked away from the skies to help power vessels bound for both land and sea over the years. As for vehicles in the former category, at a whopping 240 horsepower, the engine Rotax designed to power Can-Am's Maverick R side-by-side UTV — which, for the record, is dramatically different than an ATV — is easily one of the punchiest it's ever made. In fact, according to Can-Am, Rotax's turbocharged 240 HP 999T power plant is actually providing industry-leading power to its Maverick off-roader. The engine's dynamic output is only bolstered by the inclusion of Rotax's 54 mm tubeless turbocharger, and the build's actuated wastegate — a device that helps regulate the turbocharger's boost pressure — is apparently a first for the side-by-side sector. On top of that, the inline three-cylinder, four-stroke, fuel-injected engine is also the first of Rotax's off-road power plants to utilize a seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), which is available in automatic or paddle shifter. Coupled with the engine's dedicated drive modes, it makes it possible to tailor the driving experience to whatever you need on the day. With a trove of design features meant to bolster the engine's durability in the wild, you should be able to tackle whatever high mountain roads or dusty dunes you tackle in your Maverick R without worrying too much about damaging the powerful engine, giving it all that get-up-and-go. With Rotax providing some serious punch to the land-bound Maverick R, the manufacturer has developed an even more powerful engine for vessels primarily used in the open waters of the world. Said vessels are made by Sea-Doo, who has been manufacturing personal watercraft (PWC) for the thrill-loving masses since 1968. Despite a lengthy history in the water sports arena, the Sea-Doo may have reached its peak when it recently began offering the Rotax 1630 ACE 325 engine in certain jet skis, with that engine capable of producing a staggering 325 horsepower. At present, that powerful Rotax is only available as an option for three models of Sea-Doo: the RXP-X, the RXT-X, and the GTX Limited. As for that 325 HP, per Sea-Doo, it is indeed a record-setter in the personal watercraft game, with the purpose-built 1630 ACE 325 currently standing as the most powerful engine ever built for a PWC. Just for reference regarding the engine's power capabilities, the 1630 ACE 325 is capable of providing a Sea-Doo with legitimately head-spinning acceleration, going 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. It is, of course, worth wondering whether or not your average Sea-Doo rider actually needs or can even safely handle the sort of acceleration the Rotax engine delivers. But if you're a seasoned PWC enthusiast looking for the ultimate ride or a racer looking for a competitive edge on the water, the 1630 ACE 325 should more than suit your needs.More Scots business owners anticipate higher turnover in 2025, poll suggests
IRS Funding Cuts: A Looming Crisis for Federal Revenue and ServicesThe 39th president of the United States has died at 100. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirmed the news with a post on X, stating the son of the former president said his father had died around 3:40 p.m. ET in his Plains home. People across the country and the world are reflecting on former President Jimmy Carter and his life, which was full of achievements. He died at the age of 100 at his longtime home in Plains, Georgia . While the 39th president will be remembered for setting a national energy policy and working on peace accords, it was his establishment of an agency aimed at responding to disasters that continues to impact many communities today. Since the country’s formation in the 1700s, local governments have faced disasters in which the needed response has been considered too great to handle. The federal government started providing aid and assistance in the early 1800s, but it wasn’t until Carter’s signing of Executive Order 12127 that an agency was solely tasked with responding to hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and other disasters. Before Carter was sworn in on Jan. 20, 1977, the country was reeling from natural disasters, with poor governmental responses that only made the catastrophes worse. In 1962, an extratropical cyclone slammed into the mid-Atlantic and became one of the most destructive storms ever to impact the states. The year 1964 brought the most powerful earthquake to ever strike North America, with a 9.2-magnitude quake shaking the ground underneath Alaska. Over the next five years, communities along the Gulf Coast would face double disasters from major hurricanes Betsy and Camille. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter speaks as he tours homes being built by Habitat for Humanity in Pascagoula, Mississippi, in May 2008 during rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina. (Photo by James Edward Bates/Biloxi Sun Herald/Tribune News Ser All these disasters caused extensive devastation and were responsible for killing hundreds of people, but a common theme emerged – poorly coordinated responses . According to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum , the president had universal support from governors and interest groups to form an agency to combat the problem. With the political will in hand, the Federal Emergency Management Agency was born on April 1, 1979. The agency was tasked with emergency management response and merged the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency, Federal Preparedness Agency, Federal Disaster Assistance Administration, Federal Insurance Administration, U.S. Fire Administration and half-a-dozen other programs. Gordon Vickery , a highly respected firefighter, who rose through the ranks to become the fire chief in Seattle, was selected as interim head of the then-2,400-person-strong agency. In the hours before the agency’s ramp-up, an accident at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant in Pennsylvania overshadowed the initial days of the agency and drew attention to inadequate preparedness surrounding highly volatile energy plants. Dangerous and now deadly severe weather is sweeping through the South Saturday evening, just hours after multiple tornadoes left damage in the southeastern part of Texas. Bill Bunting, Deputy Director of the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center join LiveNOW's Austin Westfall to give the latest weather update. The event would trigger one of many expansions of powers for the newly-formed agency. Carter signed Executive Order 12148 , which directed FEMA to develop a plan to respond to nuclear emergencies. Now, the agency, once solely tasked with emergency management responses, also gained civil defense responsibilities. These changes were far from the last for the agency with a then-$600 million budget. The position of leading FEMA appeared to become a preverbal carousel with three leaders in just two months. Stability among government ranks took a further hit when Carter lost his reelection campaign to former California Gov. Ronald Reagan. The changing of the guard at the White House did little to stop the trend of temporary appointments, as 1981 brought three additional heads to the agency. In addition to the change at the top, a political landslide gave the Regan administration the political power to change course on many aspects of government operations and that included FEMA. According to an agency history , developments in Cold War diplomacy contributed to more wartime hazard planning. The leader at the time, retired Army officer Louis Giuffrida, made it to be the longest-serving head of FEMA, but questionable actions and congressional investigation ultimately led to his resignation in 1985. The agency once again fell into the pattern where it was anyone’s gig, but a disaster known as Hurricane Hugo in 1989 served as a reminder of the importance of a functioning FEMA. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper called the ongoing disaster "catastrophic," as the state manages its worst flooding in a century. Search and rescue teams from 19 states, as well as the federal government, are on the ground trying to help residents. Cell phone service is down, and the governor's office reports more than 200 people have been rescued from flood waters so far. FEMA's Acting Director of Response and Recovery, Keith Turi, joins LiveNOW from FOX with the latest operation details. Hugo was the strongest storm to strike the U.S. coastline in two decades and came ashore in the Carolinas as a Category 4 hurricane with estimated winds of at least 135 mph. The storm produced $11 billion in damage, and FEMA was in charge of the response. A government history of the time period stated: "FEMA, the agency in charge of the response process, received most of the blame; FEMA, not Hurricane Hugo, was referred to as the real disaster." Again, the agency was the subject of congressional ridicule, with U.S. Sen. Ernest Hollings calling FEMA "the sorriest bunch of bureaucratic jackasses I’ve ever known." The administration of President George H.W. Bush pledged to set the course right on FEMA and searched high and low for its next head. The administration put their faith in Wallace Stickney from New England. No one could foresee that the agency would be tasked with its largest disaster in more than two years – Hurricane Andrew . The major hurricane made landfall on Aug. 24, 1992, as a Category 4 hurricane in South Florida. A NOAA reanalysis in 2004 upgraded the costliest hurricane ever to a Category 5. Similar to Hurricane Hugo, the response to the catastrophe was considered inadequate and had local, state and even some federal officials asking if the agency’s response made the disaster even worse. A federal investigation into the agency’s response found that plans for disasters were not adequate, local governments were overwhelmed and the movement of materials and personnel into the impact zone was too slow. The administration of President Bill Clinton brought a slew of new faces into the federal government, including James Lee Witt. The Arkansan knew a thing or two about emergency services and was appointed as the sixth permanent administrator of FEMA. Similar to other leaders of the agency, Mother Nature did not provide a grace period for Witt, as hurricanes, massive floods and West Coast earthquakes left few areas of the country unaffected. One of the largest disasters was the Great Flood of 1993, which impacted nearly a dozen states and caused damages of more than $15 billion across the Midwest. During the recovery, officials lauded FEMA’s response and confidence grew in Witt being the right person to lead the agency. Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter remains in home hospice after a series of hospital stays. Thomas Whalen, an associate professor of Social Sciences at Boston University joined LiveNOW from FOX's Josh Breslow to discuss Carter's legacy. A series of disasters, including the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, proved the agency was at the beckoning of any municipality. Not long after the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, Clinton raised the FEMA position to cabinet-level status, underscoring the growing importance and reliability of the agency. During a 1998 interview , Witt was asked what adjustments were made that enabled outsiders to view FEMA in a more positive light versus the ridicule and scorn that had plagued it. "We worked hard at creating a more customer-focused agency," Witt said. "A major initiative was to provide customer service training to all FEMA employees, including senior management. This was a huge undertaking." After Witt’s reign, the agency would go on to have many ups and downs, including what news organizations reported was a botched response to Hurricane Katrina , which struck the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005. The major storm resulted in more than 1,300 fatalities and a damage figure that topped a 2023-cost-adjusted price tag of $191 billion. REPORT: 90% OF COUNTIES IN US EXPERIENCED AT LEAST 1 DISASTER IN PAST DECADE On significant anniversaries, FEMA leaders usually take to social media to reflect on the agency’s beginning, but on a daily basis, trainees are exposed to a message that reflects upon Carter’s role in its establishment. Located within FEMA training documents is a pledge that the commitment bestowed on the agency by Carter will never change. The passage reads: "On April 1, 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed the Executive Order that created the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). From day one, FEMA has remained committed to protecting and serving the American people. That commitment to the people we serve and the belief in our survivor-centric mission will never change." In many ways, the agency continues to follow one of the first lines ever uttered by the 39th president. During his inaugural address on that cold, 28-degree day in January, Carter boldly told the crowd of thousands: "To be true to ourselves, we must be true to others." The line was part of a 1,228-word speech that the White House Historical Association said was focused on rejecting mediocrity and restoring trust in the federal government. Read more of this story from FOX Weather.
MSquash in Norwalk Makes History with Launch of Women’s National Squash League Team: The SONO SharksHe is not yet in power but President-elect Donald Trump rattled much of the world with an off-hours warning of stiff tariffs on close allies and China -- a loud hint that Trump-style government by social media post is coming back. With word of these levies against goods imported from Mexico, Canada and China, Trump sent auto industry stocks plummeting, raised fears for global supply chains and unnerved the world's major economies. For Washington-watchers with memories of the Republican's first term, the impromptu policy volley on Monday evening foreshadowed a second term of startling announcements of all manner, fired off at all hours of the day from his smartphone. "Donald Trump is never going to change much of anything," said Larry Sabato, a leading US political scientist and director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. "You can expect in the second term pretty much what he showed us about himself and his methods in the first term. Social media announcements of policy, hirings and firings will continue." The first of Trump's tariff announcements -- a 25 percent levy on everything coming in from Mexico and Canada -- came amid an angry rebuke of lax border security at 6:45 pm on Truth Social, Trump's own platform. The United States is bound by agreements on the movement of goods and services brokered by Trump in a free trade treaty with both nations during his first term. But Trump warned that the new levy would "remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country" -- sowing panic from Ottawa to Mexico City. Seconds later, another message from the incoming commander-in-chief turned the focus on Chinese imports, which he said would be hit with "an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs." The consequences were immediate. Almost every major US automaker operates plants in Mexico, and shares in General Motors and Stellantis -- which produce pickup trucks in America's southern neighbor -- plummeted. Canada, China and Mexico protested, while Germany called on its European partners to prepare for Trump to impose hefty tariffs on their exports and stick together to combat such measures. The tumult recalls Trump's first term, when journalists, business leaders and politicians at home and abroad would scan their phones for the latest pronouncements, often long after they had left the office or over breakfast. During his first four years in the Oval Office, the tweet -- in those days his newsy posts were almost exclusively limited to Twitter, now known as X -- became the quasi-official gazette for administration policy. The public learned of the president-elect's 2020 Covid-19 diagnosis via an early-hours post, and when Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani was assassinated on Trump's order, the Republican confirmed the kill by tweeting a US flag. The public and media learned of numerous other decisions big and small by the same source, from the introduction of customs duties to the dismissal of cabinet secretaries. It is not a communication method that has been favored by any previous US administration and runs counter to the policies and practices of most governments around the world. Throughout his third White House campaign, and with every twist and turn in his various entanglements with the justice system, Trump has poured his heart out on Truth Social, an app he turned to during his 20-month ban from Twitter. In recent days, the mercurial Republican has even named his attorney general secretaries of justice and health via announcements on the network. "He sees social media as a tool to shape and direct the national conversation and will do so again," said political scientist Julian Zelizer, a Princeton University professor. cjc/ft/dw/bjt
Smokers who quit for a week could save a day of their life, experts saySmokers who quit for a week could save a day of their life, experts say
The 39th president of the United States has died at 100. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirmed the news with a post on X, stating the son of the former president said his father had died around 3:40 p.m. ET in his Plains home. People across the country and the world are reflecting on former President Jimmy Carter and his life, which was full of achievements. He died at the age of 100 at his longtime home in Plains, Georgia . While the 39th president will be remembered for setting a national energy policy and working on peace accords, it was his establishment of an agency aimed at responding to disasters that continues to impact many communities today. Since the country’s formation in the 1700s, local governments have faced disasters in which the needed response has been considered too great to handle. The federal government started providing aid and assistance in the early 1800s, but it wasn’t until Carter’s signing of Executive Order 12127 that an agency was solely tasked with responding to hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and other disasters. Before Carter was sworn in on Jan. 20, 1977, the country was reeling from natural disasters, with poor governmental responses that only made the catastrophes worse. In 1962, an extratropical cyclone slammed into the mid-Atlantic and became one of the most destructive storms ever to impact the states. The year 1964 brought the most powerful earthquake to ever strike North America, with a 9.2-magnitude quake shaking the ground underneath Alaska. Over the next five years, communities along the Gulf Coast would face double disasters from major hurricanes Betsy and Camille. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter speaks as he tours homes being built by Habitat for Humanity in Pascagoula, Mississippi, in May 2008 during rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina. (Photo by James Edward Bates/Biloxi Sun Herald/Tribune News Ser All these disasters caused extensive devastation and were responsible for killing hundreds of people, but a common theme emerged – poorly coordinated responses . According to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum , the president had universal support from governors and interest groups to form an agency to combat the problem. With the political will in hand, the Federal Emergency Management Agency was born on April 1, 1979. The agency was tasked with emergency management response and merged the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency, Federal Preparedness Agency, Federal Disaster Assistance Administration, Federal Insurance Administration, U.S. Fire Administration and half-a-dozen other programs. Gordon Vickery , a highly respected firefighter, who rose through the ranks to become the fire chief in Seattle, was selected as interim head of the then-2,400-person-strong agency. In the hours before the agency’s ramp-up, an accident at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant in Pennsylvania overshadowed the initial days of the agency and drew attention to inadequate preparedness surrounding highly volatile energy plants. Dangerous and now deadly severe weather is sweeping through the South Saturday evening, just hours after multiple tornadoes left damage in the southeastern part of Texas. Bill Bunting, Deputy Director of the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center join LiveNOW's Austin Westfall to give the latest weather update. The event would trigger one of many expansions of powers for the newly-formed agency. Carter signed Executive Order 12148 , which directed FEMA to develop a plan to respond to nuclear emergencies. Now, the agency, once solely tasked with emergency management responses, also gained civil defense responsibilities. These changes were far from the last for the agency with a then-$600 million budget. The position of leading FEMA appeared to become a preverbal carousel with three leaders in just two months. Stability among government ranks took a further hit when Carter lost his reelection campaign to former California Gov. Ronald Reagan. The changing of the guard at the White House did little to stop the trend of temporary appointments, as 1981 brought three additional heads to the agency. In addition to the change at the top, a political landslide gave the Regan administration the political power to change course on many aspects of government operations and that included FEMA. According to an agency history , developments in Cold War diplomacy contributed to more wartime hazard planning. The leader at the time, retired Army officer Louis Giuffrida, made it to be the longest-serving head of FEMA, but questionable actions and congressional investigation ultimately led to his resignation in 1985. The agency once again fell into the pattern where it was anyone’s gig, but a disaster known as Hurricane Hugo in 1989 served as a reminder of the importance of a functioning FEMA. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper called the ongoing disaster "catastrophic," as the state manages its worst flooding in a century. Search and rescue teams from 19 states, as well as the federal government, are on the ground trying to help residents. Cell phone service is down, and the governor's office reports more than 200 people have been rescued from flood waters so far. FEMA's Acting Director of Response and Recovery, Keith Turi, joins LiveNOW from FOX with the latest operation details. Hugo was the strongest storm to strike the U.S. coastline in two decades and came ashore in the Carolinas as a Category 4 hurricane with estimated winds of at least 135 mph. The storm produced $11 billion in damage, and FEMA was in charge of the response. A government history of the time period stated: "FEMA, the agency in charge of the response process, received most of the blame; FEMA, not Hurricane Hugo, was referred to as the real disaster." Again, the agency was the subject of congressional ridicule, with U.S. Sen. Ernest Hollings calling FEMA "the sorriest bunch of bureaucratic jackasses I’ve ever known." The administration of President George H.W. Bush pledged to set the course right on FEMA and searched high and low for its next head. The administration put their faith in Wallace Stickney from New England. No one could foresee that the agency would be tasked with its largest disaster in more than two years – Hurricane Andrew . The major hurricane made landfall on Aug. 24, 1992, as a Category 4 hurricane in South Florida. A NOAA reanalysis in 2004 upgraded the costliest hurricane ever to a Category 5. Similar to Hurricane Hugo, the response to the catastrophe was considered inadequate and had local, state and even some federal officials asking if the agency’s response made the disaster even worse. A federal investigation into the agency’s response found that plans for disasters were not adequate, local governments were overwhelmed and the movement of materials and personnel into the impact zone was too slow. The administration of President Bill Clinton brought a slew of new faces into the federal government, including James Lee Witt. The Arkansan knew a thing or two about emergency services and was appointed as the sixth permanent administrator of FEMA. Similar to other leaders of the agency, Mother Nature did not provide a grace period for Witt, as hurricanes, massive floods and West Coast earthquakes left few areas of the country unaffected. One of the largest disasters was the Great Flood of 1993, which impacted nearly a dozen states and caused damages of more than $15 billion across the Midwest. During the recovery, officials lauded FEMA’s response and confidence grew in Witt being the right person to lead the agency. Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter remains in home hospice after a series of hospital stays. Thomas Whalen, an associate professor of Social Sciences at Boston University joined LiveNOW from FOX's Josh Breslow to discuss Carter's legacy. A series of disasters, including the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, proved the agency was at the beckoning of any municipality. Not long after the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, Clinton raised the FEMA position to cabinet-level status, underscoring the growing importance and reliability of the agency. During a 1998 interview , Witt was asked what adjustments were made that enabled outsiders to view FEMA in a more positive light versus the ridicule and scorn that had plagued it. "We worked hard at creating a more customer-focused agency," Witt said. "A major initiative was to provide customer service training to all FEMA employees, including senior management. This was a huge undertaking." After Witt’s reign, the agency would go on to have many ups and downs, including what news organizations reported was a botched response to Hurricane Katrina , which struck the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005. The major storm resulted in more than 1,300 fatalities and a damage figure that topped a 2023-cost-adjusted price tag of $191 billion. REPORT: 90% OF COUNTIES IN US EXPERIENCED AT LEAST 1 DISASTER IN PAST DECADE On significant anniversaries, FEMA leaders usually take to social media to reflect on the agency’s beginning, but on a daily basis, trainees are exposed to a message that reflects upon Carter’s role in its establishment. Located within FEMA training documents is a pledge that the commitment bestowed on the agency by Carter will never change. The passage reads: "On April 1, 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed the Executive Order that created the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). From day one, FEMA has remained committed to protecting and serving the American people. That commitment to the people we serve and the belief in our survivor-centric mission will never change." In many ways, the agency continues to follow one of the first lines ever uttered by the 39th president. During his inaugural address on that cold, 28-degree day in January, Carter boldly told the crowd of thousands: "To be true to ourselves, we must be true to others." The line was part of a 1,228-word speech that the White House Historical Association said was focused on rejecting mediocrity and restoring trust in the federal government. Read more of this story from FOX Weather.