Requests for Federal Disaster Assistance Need Better Evaluation

The Federal Disaster Relief Program is intended to supplement the assistance which states, their political subdivision, private relief organizations, and citizens provide for disaster relief. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) evaluates requests from states for assistance and recommends declarations or denials to the President. GAO reviewed FEMA activities to determine the type and amount of information it obtains, the criteria it uses to evaluate the requests, and the bases for its recommendations.

GAO found problems which existed in determining the reasonableness of disaster assistance provided by state and local governments. FEMA uses a wide range of information in arriving at its decisions. The lack of consistency in the quality and method of assessments and the lack of knowledge by others as to the FEMA methods of evaluation can create doubt as to whether the federal government is only providing supplementary assistance and whether each request is judged in a fair and equitable manner. FEMA policies, procedures, and guidelines for evaluating requests are not widely known. Disclosing internal assessment processes would help state and local governments decide whether they had a valid request to make, enable them to provide more complete and uniform information, and minimize doubts as to whether their requests are treated in a fair and equitable manner. GAO also found that FEMA has adopted a controversial cost-sharing policy and has funded other than natural disasters. Although the FEMA cost sharing policy is consistent with the Disaster Relief Act, it has created controversy among the states. State officials contend that the policy forces them to pay for disaster relief costs which the states believe are beyond their capability to assume or which constitute more than a reasonable amount of state and local funds. The President has provided disaster assistance for such events as the Love Canal chemical contamination and the Cuban refugee crisis which raised questions as to whether other than natural catastrophes are within the purview of the existing law.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: John H. Luke Team: General Accounting Office: Community and Economic Development Division Phone: (202) 275-6111