Requests for Federal Disaster Assistance Need Better Evaluation.

Abstract

Since 1970 the President's Disaster Relief Fund has provided over $3.8 billion to individuals and State and local governments. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in assessing eligibility for disaster assistance, has had difficulty in determining whether State and local governments are capable of handling their own disasters and whether they are committing a reasonable amount of their available funds for disaster relief. GAO also found that the Agency has adopted a controversial cost-sharing policy and has funded other than natural disasters. GAO recommends that the Congress clarify (1) the extent of supplemental Federal assistance to be given and (2) what kinds of disasters are eligible for Federal assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency should analyze the impact potential State inequities have on Federal disaster assistance and submit a detailed plan and legislative changes to the Congress to correct such weaknesses. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 07, 1981
Accession Number
ADA111587

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Business Administration
  • Civil Defense
  • Congress
  • Databases
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Disasters
  • Emergency Response
  • Governments
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Law
  • Local Governments
  • National Governments
  • Natural Disasters
  • Regression Analysis
  • State Law
  • Statistical Analysis
  • United States

Readers

  • Defense Financial Management and Audit.
  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.