The federal agency that responds to natural disasters — including widespread flooding — is looking to move its regional headquarters to the Sacramento region. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is expected to move 130 employees from Oakland to the Sacramento region by February 2012.
The federal agency, which has banned development in Natomas until levees can provide much-better flood protection, needs about 85,000 square feet and is looking in Sacramento, West Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, Roseville and Rocklin. FEMA wants to move to a safer region, especially with the increased threat of a major earthquake in the Bay Area.