Disaster can strike any community at any time. It can take many forms, building over time or hitting suddenly without warning. In the last decade, whether as a result of natural or man-made disasters, the nation’s emergency-response apparatus has faced enormous challenges. Overcoming these challenges and forging a national emergency-response network for the 21st century requires innovation and teamwork. We spoke with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate about how teamwork is integral to his agency’s success, the challenges facing his agency, how he is leveraging social media, the importance of individual preparedness and being ready, and how technology helps FEMA and its partners respond more effectively to disasters.