The Emergency Management Assistance Program Should Contribute More Directly to National Civil Defense Objectives

Gao ID: GGD-83-5 November 5, 1982

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Emergency Management Assistance (EMA) Program and the policies which govern distributions of EMA grant funds by States to local jurisdictions.

GAO found that EMA funds often bypass local areas critical to the national civil defense effort and may not be used to support national civil defense objectives by local jurisdictions receiving the funds. FEMA has issued criteria for the substate distribution of funds, but these regulations are vague and in some cases conflicting. FEMA has not held local EMA grantees accountable for achieving FEMA goals or levels of preparedness because existing Federal criteria have not been applied by FEMA and the States.

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: Roger L. Sperry Team: General Accounting Office: General Government Division Phone: (202) 275-3641


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