Theories about the U.S. government’s motivations and goals for its processes and procedures abound. Many of those theories seem far out there, while many don’t appear too far-fetched at all. We’ve seen that time, hard evidence, and the occasional hard-charging journalist can indeed bring the truth to light. One of the theories that has gained some traction in certain circles surrounds the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

When major natural disasters or other crises occur in the United States, the President of the United States can declare the incident a federal emergency. This in turn activates FEMA to attend to the effects of the crisis. FEMA was established in 1979 under executive order by President Jimmy Carter. In 2002, FEMA was codified into law and made a division of the Department of Homeland Security.

One of the many things FEMA does during a crisis is establish camps. On paper, these camps are constructed to provide aid to those most affected by giving them shelter, food, water, hygiene, and other necessities. But are these camps all they’re cracked up to be?

Theorists claim that FEMA camps have been used as concentration camps where the government has imprisoned US citizens during certain crises. But the theory isn’t just a view into the past. Some versions of the theory say that in the future large numbers of US citizens, including dissidents, will be imprisoned by a New World Order. Why would they do that? Extermination.

These theories began circulating in the 1970s, but have gained greater public attention with the evolution of the internet and social media. Supporters of these theories argue that FEMA's 'disaster response' mission is merely a cover for its true purpose. Theorists believe the organization is 'the executive arm of the coming police state' and plans to one day assume control of the United States following a major nationwide disaster. Skeptics of these theories believe the 1940s Holocaust in Nazi Germany propagated these irrational fears. After all, the realities of the Holocaust and the details of FEMA camp theories have similarities

So, are FEMA camps really guises for sinister ulterior motives to subjugate and kill the American populace? Will FEMA one day take over control of all American citizens’ lives? Maybe. Time and new revelations on the matter will tell.