Hurricane Katrina: Providing Oversight of the Nation's		 
Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Activities (28-SEP-05,	 
GAO-05-1053T).							 
                                                                 
Hurricane Katrina will have an enormous impact on people and the 
economy of the United States. The hurricane affected over a half 
million people located in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama and
has resulted in one of the largest natural disaster relief and	 
recovery operations in United States history. In terms of public 
health, standing water and high temperatures have created a	 
breeding ground for disease, and public health advisories have	 
warned about the spread of disease in the affected areas.	 
Hurricane Katrina also resulted in environmental challenges, such
as water and sediment contamination from toxic materials released
into the floodwaters. In addition, our nation's energy		 
infrastructure was hard hit; it affected 21 refineries. In terms 
of telecommunications, Hurricane Katrina knocked out radio and	 
television stations, more than 3 million customer phone lines,	 
and more than a thousand cell phone sites. GAO prepared this	 
testimony to highlight past work on government programs related  
to Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters, and to provide 
information on plans and coordination among the accountability	 
community--GAO, the Inspectors General, and other auditors at the
state and local level.						 
-------------------------Indexing Terms------------------------- 
REPORTNUM:   GAO-05-1053T					        
    ACCNO:   A38577						        
  TITLE:     Hurricane Katrina: Providing Oversight of the Nation's   
Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Activities 		 
     DATE:   09/28/2005 
  SUBJECT:   Disaster relief aid				 
	     Emergency preparedness				 
	     Environment evaluation				 
	     Environmental monitoring				 
	     Hurricanes 					 
	     Inspectors general 				 
	     Intergovernmental relations			 
	     Natural disasters					 
	     Petroleum industry 				 
	     Regulatory agencies				 
	     Strategic planning 				 
	     Telecommunications 				 
	     Disaster recovery					 
	     Disaster recovery plans				 
	     Environmental protection				 
	     Environmental restoration				 
	     Public health					 
	     Hurricane Katrina					 

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GAO-05-1053T

     

     * Summary
     * Past GAO Work Has Highlighted Needed Improvements in Many Programs
       Related to Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
          * Health Care Issues
          * Energy Issues
          * Environmental Issues
          * Telecommunications Issues
     * Concluding Observations
     * GAO Contacts and Staff Acknowledgments
     * Related GAO Products
          * Charities
          * Coast Guard and Seaports
          * Energy Supply
          * Environment and Natural Resources
          * Flood Control
          * Infrastructure
          * Insurance
          * Military's Role, Including National Guard and Res
          * Preparedness
          * Public Health
          * Response
          * Recovery
               * Order by Mail or Phone

                 United States Government Accountability Office

Testimony Before the Subcommittee on

    Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of
                                Representatives

For Release on Delivery        HURRICANE KATRINA                           
Expected at 10:00 a.m. EDT     
Wednesday, September 28, 2005  
                                  Providing Oversight of the Nation's         
                                  Preparedness, Response, and Recovery        
                                  Activities                                  
                                  Statement of Norman J. Rabkin, Managing     
                                  Director, Homeland Security and Justice     
                                  Issues                                      

GAO-05-1053T

HURRICANE KATRINA

Providing Oversight of the Nation's Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
Activities

  What GAO Found

GAO's past work has noted a host of needed improvements in a variety of
government programs related to Hurricane Katrina and other natural
disasters. For example, GAO found that there have been a number of
challenges in preparing health care providers for catastrophic events. In
addition, GAO's work on energy issues has noted the interconnectedness of
our petroleum markets and revealed the vulnerability of these markets to
disruptions, natural or otherwise. GAO's environmental work has indicated
that the loss of wetlands has increased the severity of damage from
hurricanes, and that cleanup of contaminated sites takes a tremendous
amount of coordination and funding. Finally, GAO's work on
telecommunications issues has found that interoperable emergency
communications are challenged by insufficient collaboration among federal,
state, and local governments. In these areas, among others, GAO has made a
number of recommendations which are still open.

While GAO has issued a number of relevant reports in the past, the
accountability community has an active future agenda for evaluating the
nation's response to Hurricane Katrina. The DHS Office of Inspector
General (OIG) has developed a plan to coordinate Katrina-related oversight
activities with the OIGs of 12 other departments and agencies, focusing on
waste, fraud, and abuse. GAO plans to provide the Congress with more
strategic evaluations to assess the federal, state, local, and private
sector preparedness, response and recovery efforts related to Hurricane
Katrina. GAO also plans to be involved in reviewing the overall accounting
of and use of Katrina-related funds by federal agencies.

              Rescue Workers Search a Home in Flooded New Orleans

                 United States Government Accountability Office

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee:

I am pleased to be here today to discuss oversight of the nation's
response to Hurricane Katrina. As Comptroller General Walker has stated,
while the Inspectors General of the various departments plan to conduct
detailed work on fraud, waste, and abuse in individual programs in federal
agencies, GAO plans to provide support to Congress through analysis and
evaluation of the various issues related to coordination among different
federal agencies, and between these federal agencies and the state, local,
and private sectors. The Comptroller General has also stated that GAO will
be involved in reviewing the overall funding for and use of
Katrina-related funding by various federal agencies. In addition, GAO has
conducted several related reviews in the past-including reviews of federal
actions following Hurricane Andrew in 1992-that will be helpful in
evaluating the nation's response to Hurricane Katrina.

Before I begin my detailed comments, I want to say that, as you know, all
of us at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, as all Americans, were
saddened by the destruction that Hurricane Katrina caused throughout the
Gulf Coast in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama on August 29, 2005, and
the ensuing days. One of the many roles of government is to provide for
its citizens at a time when they are most in need. Because of Hurricane
Katrina, it is clear that strengthening the nation's emergency response
efforts is at the top of the national agenda. While this testimony is a
dispassionate and analytical discussion of some of the challenges faced by
the nation, we recognize the terrible costs of Hurricane Katrina in human
terms and our hearts go out to the victims and their families.

Hurricane Katrina will have an enormous impact on people and the economy
of the Gulf Coast as well as the United States. The hurricane affected
over a half million people located within approximately 90,000 square
miles spanning Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, and has resulted in
one of the largest natural disaster relief and recovery operations in
United States history. Many of the sectors affected by the hurricane are
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. In terms
of public health, standing water and high temperatures have created a
breeding ground for disease, and public health advisories have warned
about the spread of disease in the affected areas. The medical needs of
evacuees will be an additional challenge; many evacuees are without
medical records and at risk of losing their medical coverage. Hurricane
Katrina also resulted in environmental challenges, such as water and
sediment contamination from toxic materials released into the floodwaters.
In addition, our nation's energy

                                    Summary

infrastructure was hard hit. The Department of Energy reported that 21
refineries in affected states were either shut down or operating at
reduced capacity in the aftermath of the hurricane. Damaged transmission
lines left as many as 2.3 million customers without electricity. The
hurricane also disrupted commerce. According to the Department of
Commerce, the ports damaged by Hurricane Katrina accounted for

tes.

In my statement today I will highlight some of GAO's previous work on
challenges faced by government preparedness, response, and recovery
programs, many of which are directly related to this committee's
jurisdiction. For future work, GAO will continue to provide this committee
and Congress with independent analysis and evaluations, and coordinate our
efforts with the accountability community to ensure appropriate oversight
of federal programs and spending. As provided for in our congressional
protocols, we plan to conduct Katrina-related work under the Comptroller
General's statutory authority since it is an issue of interest to the
entire Congress and numerous committees in both houses.

My statement is based upon our extensive work spanning a wide variety of
topics over a number of years. Much of this work was done relatively
recently in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,
and the subsequent creation of the Department of Homeland Security in
March 2003. In all, we have published over 120 reports on disaster
preparedness and response, and other issues raised by Katrina, which are
useful in moving forward in addressing problems encountered with the
nation's response to the hurricane. At the end of this statement is a
comprehensive list of our related products.

Our past work has noted needed improvements in government programs related
to preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural disasters
such as Hurricane Katrina. Many of these challenges relate to programs
under the jurisdiction of the Energy and Commerce Committee. For example,
health care providers have not always been adequately prepared for
catastrophic events. The health care community has been addressing some of
these challenges, such as those involving coordination efforts and
communications systems, more readily than others, such as infrastructure
and workforce issues, which are more resource-intensive.

  Past GAO Work Has Highlighted Needed Improvements in Many Programs Related to
  Preparedness, Response, and Recovery

Our work on energy issues has described some of the consequences of
hurricanes on petroleum markets-such as rapid gasoline price increases.
Our environmental work has indicated that the loss of wetlands has
increased the severity of damage from hurricanes, and that cleanup of
contaminated sites takes a tremendous amount of coordination and funding.
Finally, our work on telecommunications issues has found that first
responders are challenged by a lack of interoperable emergency
communications. In these areas, among others, we have made a number of
recommendations, many of which are still pending completion.

There are a host of challenges to government programs related to Hurricane
Katrina and other natural disasters in terms of preparedness, response,
and recovery. Our work on preparedness-programs to prevent disasters or
prepare to respond in advance-has identified needed improvements in a
number of areas, including balancing efforts to prepare for terrorism with
efforts related to natural disasters and all hazards; planning
preparedness efforts and setting goals and measures; providing training,
exercises, evaluations, and lessons learned to first responders; providing
flood control and protection; improving public health preparedness; and
providing federal grants to state and local governments. Similarly, our
work on response to disasters has identified a number of problems. These
relate to federal, state and local roles in coordinating the response; the
role of the military, to include the National Guard; and the medical and
public health response capabilities. Furthermore, our work on
recovery-programs to help communities and victims get back to normal-has
also identified challenges related to federal assistance to recovery
areas, private nongovernment assistance efforts, and lessons from overseas
recovery programs. In many of these areas we have made a number of
recommendations, some of which have still not been implemented. Below are
some examples of our previous and planned work related to the jurisdiction
of this committee regarding preparedness, response, and recovery issues
related to health care, energy, the environment, and telecommunications.

Health Care Issues Hurricane Katrina raised a number of health care
concerns, and the preparedness of health care providers, their response
capabilities, and health care agency and hospital capacity are all
important in a major disaster. The National Strategy for Homeland Security
had a specific

Page 3 GAO-05-1053T Hurricane Katrina

initiative to prepare health care providers for catastrophic events, such
as major terrorist attacks. 1 However, in April 2003, we reported that
many local areas and their supporting agencies may not have been
adequately prepared to respond to such an event. 2 Specifically, while
many state and local officials reported varying levels of preparedness to
respond to a bioterrorist attack, they reported that challenges existed
because of deficiencies in capacity, communication, and coordination
elements essential to preparedness and response. These included workforce
shortages, inadequacies in disease surveillance and laboratory systems,
and a lack of regional coordination and compatible communications systems.
Some of these challenges, such as those involving coordination efforts and
communications systems, were being addressed more readily, whereas others,
such as infrastructure and workforce issues, were more resource-intensive.
Generally, we found that cities with more experience in dealing with
public health emergencies were generally better prepared for a major
disaster (such as a bioterrorist attack) than other cities, although
challenges remain in every city. Almost a year later, in February 2004, we
reported that although states had further developed many important aspects
of public health preparedness, no state was fully prepared to respond to a
major public health threat. 3 Specifically, states had improved their
disease surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, communications
capacity, and workforce needed to respond to public health threats, but
gaps in each remained. Moreover, regional planning among states was
lacking, and many states lacked surge capacity-the capacity to evaluate,
diagnose, and treat the large numbers of patients that would present
during a public health emergency.

In terms of health care agencies and hospital capacities, we also found
major deficiencies. In May 2003 we testified that while the efforts of
public health agencies and health care organizations to increase their
preparedness for major public health threats have increased, significant
challenges remained. 4 Specifically, we found most emergency departments

1See the National Strategy for Homeland Security, the White House, July
2002.

2

See GAO, Bioterrorism: Preparedness Varied Across State and Local
Jurisdictions, GAO-03-373 (Washingon, D.C.: Apr. 7, 2003).

3

See GAO, Public Health Preparedness: Response Capacity Improving, but Much
Remains to Be Accomplished, GAO-04-458T, (Washington, D.C.: February 12,
2004).

4

See GAO, SARS Outbreak: Improvements to Public Health Capacity Are Needed
for Responding to Bioterrorism and Emerging Infectious Diseases ,
GAO-03-769T (Washington, D.C.: May 7, 2003).

across the country lacked the capacity to respond to large-scale
infectious disease outbreaks. For example, although most hospitals across
the country reported participating in basic planning activities for
large-scale infectious disease outbreaks, few had acquired the medical
equipment resources-such as ventilators-that would be required in such an
event. Further, because most emergency departments already routinely
experienced some degree of overcrowding, they may not be able to handle
the sudden influx of patients that would occur during a large-scale
infectious disease outbreak. Regarding hospital capacity, in August 2003
we reported that the medical equipment available for response to certain
incidents (e.g., as a biological terrorist incident) varied greatly among
hospitals. 5 Additionally, many hospitals reported that they did not have
the capacity to respond to the large increase in the number of patients
that would be likely to result from incidents with mass casualties.

In our April 2003 report on preparedness, we made a number of
recommendations to help state and local jurisdictions better prepare for a
bioterrorist attack and to develop a mechanism for sharing solutions
between jurisdictions. In response to this report, the Departments of
Health and Human Services and Homeland Security concurred with GAO's
recommendations.

o  We plan future work related to Hurricane Katrina regarding public
health and health services, including mental health services issues.
Specifically, we plan to conduct evaluations of evacuation plans for
inpatient and long-term care health facilities; federal, state, and local
preparedness plans for dealing with the health consequences of natural and
man-made disasters; and provision of mental health services for evacuees
and first responders.

Energy Issues The wide-ranging effects of Hurricane Katrina on gasoline
prices nationwide are a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of our
petroleum markets and reveal the vulnerability of these markets to
disruptions, natural or otherwise. 6 These markets have become stressed
over time, in part because of a proliferation of special gasoline blends
that have raised costs and affected operations at refineries, pipelines,
and

5

See GAO, Hospital Preparedness: Most Urban Hospitals Have Emergency Plans
but Lack Certain Capacities for Bioterrorism Response, GAO-03-924
(Washington, D.C.: Aug. 6, 2003).

6

For a primer on gasoline prices, see GAO, Motor Fuels: Understanding the
Factors That Influence the Retail Price of Gasoline, GAO-05-525SP
(Washington, D.C.: May 2, 2005).

Page 5 GAO-05-1053T Hurricane Katrina

storage terminals. 7 As we noted in our recent testimony on energy
markets, Hurricane Katrina did tremendous damage to, among other things,
electricity transmission lines, and oil producing, refining, and pipeline
facilities. 8 Because the Gulf Coast refining region is a net exporter of
petroleum products to all other regions of the country, retail gasoline
prices in many parts of the nation rose dramatically. A variety of factors
determine how gasoline prices vary across different locations and over
time. For example, gasoline prices may be affected by unexpected refinery
outages or accidents that significantly disrupt the delivery of gasoline
supply. Future gasoline prices will reflect the world supply and demand
balance and will continue to be an important factor affecting the American
consumer for the foreseeable future. The impact of gasoline prices is felt
in virtually every sector of the U.S. economy. Some of our more
significant open recommendations are that (1) the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), with the Department of Energy (DOE) and others, develop a
plan to balance the environmental benefits of using special fuels with the
impacts these fuels have on the gasoline supply infrastructure, and (2) if
warranted, EPA work with other agencies to identify what statutory or
other changes are required to implement this plan. EPA declined to comment
on our recommendations and did not signify agreement or disagreement with
them.

o  We plan future work on energy issues in order to better understand the
vulnerability of the nation's energy infrastructure to natural or manmade
disasters. Specifically, we plan to conduct evaluations of determinants of
gasoline prices in particular, and the petroleum industry more generally.
Included will be evaluations of world oil reserves; security of maritime
facilities for handling and transporting petroleum, natural gas, and
petroleum products; viability of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to
respond to disruptions such as Hurricane Katrina; and impacts of the
potential disruption of Venezuelan oil imports.

Environmental Issues Hurricane Katrina resulted in significant impacts on
Gulf Coast environmental resources. The condition of environmental
resources has an important role in both the prevention and of recovery
from natural

7

See GAO, Gasoline Markets: Special Gasoline Blends Reduce Emissions and
Improve Air Quality, but Complicate Supply and Contribute to Higher Prices
, GAO-05-421 (Washington, D.C.: June 17, 2005).

8

See GAO, Energy Markets: Gasoline Price Trends, GAO-05-1047T (Washington,
D.C.: Sept. 21, 2005).

Page 6 GAO-05-1053T Hurricane Katrina

disasters. In the area of prevention, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has
responsibility for constructing hurricane prevention and flood control
projects throughout the country. The Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity
Hurricane Protection Project was one such project that was authorized by
Congress in 1965 to provide hurricane protection to New Orleans from a
fast-moving Category 3 hurricane. 9 Similarly, wetlands, once regarded as
unimportant areas to be filled or drained for agricultural or development
activities, are now recognized for the variety of important functions that
they perform, including providing flood control by slowing down and
absorbing excess water during storms; maintaining water quality by
filtering out pollutants before they enter streams, lakes, and oceans; and
protecting coastal and upland areas from erosion. 10 Moreover, it has been
suggested that wetlands act as a speed bump, slowing down storms almost as
dry land does. The Fish and Wildlife Service reports that more than half
of the 221 million acres of wetlands that existed during colonial times in
what is now the contiguous United States have been lost. There is no
reliable set of wetland acreage estimates to be used to evaluate the
progress made in achieving the goal of "no net loss" of the remaining
wetlands. In the area of recovery, Hurricane Katrina poses an enormous
challenge in terms of the cleanup of hazardous materials in the area.
Industrial discharges, sewage, gas and oil from gas stations, household
hazardous materials, pesticides, and chemicals contaminated the
floodwaters. The long-term effects of these hazardous materials, the level
of effort and coordination needed and the cost of decontamination and
cleanup will take some time to determine.

In situations where such contamination exits, EPA serves as the lead
agency for the cleanup of hazardous materials, including oil and gasoline.
EPA emergency response personnel are working in partnership with FEMA and
state and local agencies to help assess the damage, test health and
environmental conditions, and coordinate cleanup from Hurricane Katrina.
They are conducting water, air, and sediment testing, assessing drinking
water and wastewater facilities, examining superfund and other hazardous
waste sites affected by the storms, issuing environmental waivers, and
providing public advisories regarding drinking water and the potential for
hazardous debris in homes and buildings.

9

See GAO, Army Corps of Engineers: Lake Ponchartrain and Vicinity Hurricane
Protection Project, GAO-05-1050T, (Washington, D.C.: Sept. 28, 2005).

10

See GAO, Wetlands Overview: Problems With Acreage Data Persist,
GAO/RCED-98-150, (Washington, D.C.: July 1, 1998).

Page 7 GAO-05-1053T Hurricane Katrina

    Telecommunications Issues

o  We plan future work on environmental issues, such as evaluations of how
EPA and other federal, state, and local agencies conduct water, soil, and
air quality testing to determine when it will be safe for residents to
return to New Orleans. We also plan to evaluate efforts to treat hazardous
materials during the cleanup efforts and restore drinking water and
wastewater facilities. We also plan to review the Army Corps of Engineers
efforts to repair the integrity of the hurricane protection structures in
the New Orleans area and assess issues relating to wetland losses.

Hurricane Katrina knocked out a wide variety of communications
infrastructure and communication among emergency personnel is important in
any disaster. The National Strategy for Homeland Security called for
seamless communications among all first responders and public health
entities. However, in our August and November 2003 reports, we noted that
insufficient collaboration among federal, state, and local governments had
created a challenge for sharing public health information and developing
interoperable communications for first responders. 11 For example, states
and cities had implemented many initiatives to improve information
sharing, but these initiatives had not been well coordinated and risked
creating partnerships that limited access to information and created
duplicative efforts. Another challenge involved the lack of effective,
collaborative, interdisciplinary, and intergovernmental planning for
interoperable communications. For instance, the federal and state
governments lacked a coordinated grant review process to ensure that funds
were used for communications projects that complemented one another and
added to overall statewide and national interoperability capacity. 12
Moreover, we testified in April 2004 that the Wireless Public Safety
Interoperable Communications Program, or SAFECOM, had made very limited
progress in achieving communications interoperability among all entities
at all levels of government and had not achieved the level of
collaboration necessary. 13 Finally, in our October 2003 report on public

11

See GAO, Homeland Security: Efforts to Improve Information Sharing Need to
Be Strengthened, GAO-03-760, (Washington, D.C.: Aug. 27, 2003); and
Homeland Security: Challenges in Achieving Interoperable Communications
for First Responders, GAO-04-231T (Washington, D.C.: Nov. 6, 2003).

12

See GAO, Homeland Security Federal leadership and Intergovernmental
Cooperation Required to Achieve First Responder Interoperable
Communications, GAO-04-740 (Washington, D.C.: July 20, 2004).

13

See GAO, Project SAFECOM: Key Cross-Agency Emergency Communications Effort
Requires Stronger Collaboration, GAO-04-494 (Washington, D.C.: Apr.16,
2004).

  Concluding Observations

health preparedness, we reported that challenges existed in ensuring
communication among responders and with the public. 14 For example, during
the anthrax incidents of 2001, local officials identified communication
among responders and with the public as a challenge, both in terms of
having the necessary communication channels and in terms of making the
necessary information available for distribution.

We made a number of recommendations that DHS, in conjunction with other
federal agencies, complete a database on communication frequencies,
determine the status of wireless public safety communications nationwide,
tie grant funding to statewide interoperability plans, and review the
interoperability functions of SAFECOM. DHS has agreed to take some, but
not all, of the corrective actions we recommended.

We have issued a number of reports relevant to evaluating Hurricane
Katrina. In addition, the accountability community-including the IGs and
GAO-has an active future agenda for evaluating the nation's response to
the hurricane. Congress has recently passed legislation that provided $15
million for the DHS IG to audit and investigate Hurricane Katrina response
and recovery activities. 15 The DHS IG has developed a plan for oversight
of the funds being spent directly by DHS components and the IGs of the 12
other departments and agencies that account for almost all of the
remainder of the funds appropriated thus far. The primary objective of the
IG plan is to ensure accountability, primarily through ongoing audit and
investigative efforts designed to identify and address waste, fraud, and
abuse. Each IG will be issuing an individual report to ensure that the
affected people, organizations, and governments receive the full benefit
of the funds being spent and to be spent on disaster response and recovery
programs. The DHS IG will coordinate the work of the respective IGs
through regular meetings, and the overall account of funds will be
coordinated with us through regular meetings with our senior officials.

As the IGs focus on fraud, waste, and abuse, GAO can provide Congress with
more strategic evaluations on such issues as coordination among

14

See GAO, Bioterrorism: Public Health Response to Anthrax Incidents of
2001, GAO-04-152 (Washington, D.C.: Oct. 15, 2003).

15

Second Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to Meet Immediate Needs
Arising from the Consequences of Hurricane Katrina, 2005, Pub. L. 109-62,
119 Stat. 190, 191 (2005).

Page 9 GAO-05-1053T Hurricane Katrina

various agencies and state and local government and the private sector.
Some of our past strategic work included reports in the wake of Hurricane
Andrew in 1992 16 and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. 17
Other strategic-level reports have covered such topics as barriers to
interagency coordination, 18 issues related to continuity of operations
planning for essential government services, 19 and DHS' efforts to enhance
first responders' all-hazards capabilities. 20 Many of our past reports,
which provide a firm foundation for doing Katrina-related work, contain
recommendations to improve top-level coordination. While several changes
have occurred in terms of the government's structure and process for
emergency preparedness and response, the extent to which many of our
earlier recommendations have been fully implemented remains unclear.

In closing, we will continue to work with the accountability community and
have already reached out to the relevant congressional committees, federal
IGs, and state and local auditors in the affected states to coordinate our
efforts, avoid unnecessary duplication, and most effectively utilize our
resources. Comptroller General Walker has been personally and extensively
involved in this effort and he plans to continue to be heavily involved.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my statement. I would be pleased to respond
to any questions that you or other members of the subcommittee may have at
this time.

16

See GAO, Disaster Management: Improving the Nation's Response to
Catastrophic Disasters, GAO/RCED-93-186 (Washington, D.C.: July 23, 1993).

17

See GAO, Combating Terrorism: Selected Challenges and Related
Recommendations, GAO-01-822 (Washington, D.C.: Sept. 20, 2001).

18

See GAO, Managing for Results: Barriers to Interagency Coordination,
GAO/GGD-00-106 (Washington, D.C.: Mar. 29, 2000).

19

See GAO, Continuity of Operations: Improved Planning Needed to Ensure
Delivery of Essential Government Services, GAO-04-160 (Washington, D.C.:
Feb. 27, 2004).

20

See GAO, Homeland Security: DHS' Efforts to Enhance First Responders'
All-Hazards Capabilities Continue to Evolve, GAO-05-652 (Washington, D.C.:
July 11, 2005).

  GAO Contacts and Staff Acknowledgments

Contact points for our Offices of Congressional Relations and Public
Affairs may be found on the last page of this statement. For further
information about this testimony, please contact Norman Rabkin at (202)
512-8777 or at [email protected], or William O. Jenkins, Jr., at (202)
512-8757 or at [email protected]. This statement was prepared under the
direction of Stephen L. Caldwell. Key contributors were Nancy Briggs,
Christine Davis, David Lysy, Stephanie Sand, and Ashanta Williams.

                              Related GAO Products

September 11: More Effective Collaboration Could Enhance Charitable

Charities

Organization' Contributions to Disasters, GAO-03-259, December 19, 2002.

Coast Guard and Seaports

Coast Guard: Preliminary Observations on the Condition of Deepwater Assets
and Acquisition Challenges, GAO-05-651T, June 21, 2005.

Homeland Security: Process for Reporting Lessons Learned from Seaport
Exercises Needs Further Attention, GAO-05-170, June 14, 2005.

Coast Guard: Preliminary Observations on the Condition of Deepwater Legacy
Assets and Acquisition Management Challenges, GAO-05-307T, April 20, 2005.

Maritime Security: New Structures Have Improved Information Sharing, but
Security Clearance Processing Requires Further Attention, GAO-05-394,
April 15, 2005.

Coast Guard: Observations on Agency Priorities in Fiscal Year 2006 Budget
Request, GAO-05-364T, March 17, 2005.

Maritime Security: Substantial Work Remains to Translate New Planning
Requirements into Effective Port Security, GAO-04-838, June 30, 2004.

Coast Guard: Deepwater Program Acquisition Schedule Update Needed,
GAO-04-695, June 14, 2004.

Coast Guard: Key Management and Budget Challenges for Fiscal Year 2005 and
Beyond, GAO-04-636T, April 7, 2004.

                                 Energy Supply

Gasoline Markets: Special Gasoline Blends Reduce Emissions and Improve Air
Quality, but Complicate Supply and Contribute to Higher Prices,
GAO-05-421, June 17, 2005.

Energy Markets: Understanding Current Gasoline Prices and Potential Future
Trends, GAO-05-675T, May9, 2005.

Motor Fuels: Understanding the Factors That Influence the Retail Price of
Gasoline, GAO-05-525SP, May 2005.

Meeting Energy Demand in the 21 st Century: Many Challenges and Key
Questions, GAO-05-414T, March 16, 2005.

Energy Markets: Mergers and Many Other Factors Affect U.S. Gasoline
Markets, GAO-04-951T, July 7, 2004.

Propane: Causes of Price Volatility, Potential Consumer Options, and
Opportunities to Improve Consumer Information and Federal Oversight,
GAO-03-762 , June 27, 2003.

Energy Security: Evaluating U.S. Vulnerability to Oil Supply Disruptions
and Options for Mitigating Their Effects, G AO/ RCED-97-6, December 12,
1996.

Agricultural Conservation: USDA Needs to Better Ensure Protection of
Highly Erodible Cropland and Wetlands, GAO-03-418, April 21, 2003.

Wetlands Overview: Problems With Acreage Data Persist, GAO/RCED-98- 150,
July 1, 1998.

Coastal Barriers: Development Occurring Despite Prohibition Against
Federal Assistance, RCED-92-115, July 17, 1992.

Emergency Disaster Farm Loans: Government's Financial Risk Could Be
Reduced, RCED-96-80, March 29, 1996.

                       Environment and Natural Resources

                                 Flood Control

Flood Map Modernization: Program Strategy Shows Promise, but Challenges
Remain, GAO-04-417, March 31, 2004.

Federal Flood Control Funding for Rural Areas, GAO/RCED-97-25R, December
23, 1996.

Midwest Flood: Information on the Performance, Effects and Control of
Levees, GAO/RCED-95-125, August7, 1995.

Improved Planning Needed By the Corps of Engineers to Resolve
Environmental, Technical, and Financial Issues on the Lake Pontchartrain
Hurricane Protection Project, GAO/MASAD-82-39, August 17, 1982.

                                 Infrastructure

Improvements Being Made in Flood Fighting Capabilities in the Jackson,
Mississippi, Area, GAO/CED-80-36, December 18, 1979.

Cost, Schedule and Performance Problems of the Lake Pontchartrain and
Vicinity, Louisiana, Hurricane Protection Project, PSAD-76-161, August31,
1976.

Protection of Chemical and Water Infrastructure: Federal Requirements,
Actions of Selected Facilities, and Remaining Challenges, GAO-05-327,
March 28, 2005.

Hazardous Waste Sites: Improved Effectiveness of Controls at Sites Could
Better Protect the Public, GAO-05-163, January 28, 2005.

Federal-Aid Highways: FHWA Needs a Comprehensive Approach to Improving
Project Oversight, GAO-05-173, January 31, 2005.

Water Infrastructure: Comprehensive Asset Management Has Potential to Help
Utilities Better Identify Needs and Plan Future Investments, GAO-04-461,
March 19, 2004.

Electricity Restructuring: 2003 Blackout Identifies Crisis and Opportunity
for the Electricity Sector, GAO-04-204, November 18, 2003.

Drinking Water: Experts' Views on How Future Federal Funding Can Best Be
Spent to Improve Security, GAO-04-29, October 31, 2003.

Highway Infrastructure: Stakeholders' Views on Time to Conduct
Environmental Reviews of Highway Projects, GAO-03-534, May 23, 2003.

Highway Infrastructure: Perceptions of Stakeholders on Approaches to
Reduce Highway Project Completion Time, GAO-03-398, April 9, 2003.

Environmental Protection: MTBE from Underground Tanks, GAO-02- 753T, May
21, 2002.

Drinking Water: Information on the Quality of Water Found at Community
Water Systems and Private Wells, RCED-97-123, June 12, 1997.

Insurance

National Flood Insurance Program: Oversight of Policy Issuance and Claims,
GAO-05-532T, April 14, 2005.

Catastrophe Risk: U.S. and European Approaches to Insure Natural
Catastrophe and Terrorism Risks, GAO-05-199, February 28, 2005.

National Flood Insurance Program: Actions to Address Repetitive Loss
Properties, GAO-04-401T, March 25, 2004.

Catastrophe Insurance Risks: The Role of Risk-Linked Securities and
Factors Affecting Their Use, GAO-02-941, September 24, 2002.

Budget Issues: Budgeting for Federal Insurance Programs, GAO/AIMD- 97-16,
September 30, 1997.

Military's Role, Including National Guard and Reserves

Reserve Forces: Actions Needed to Better Prepare the National Guard for
Future Overseas and Domestic Missions, GAO-05-21, November 10, 2004.

Reserve Forces: Observations on Recent National Guard Use in Overseas and
Homeland Missions and Future Challenges, GAO-04-670T, April 29, 2004.

Homeland Defense: DOD Needs to Assess the Structure of U.S. Forces for
Domestic Military Missions, GAO-03-670, July 11, 2003.

Military Personnel: Full Extent of Support to Civil Authorities Unknown
but Unlikely to Adversely Impact Retention, GAO-01-9, January 26, 2001.

Military Operations: DOD's Disaster Relief Assistance in Response to
Hurricane Mitch, GAO/NSIAD-99-122R, March 29, 1999.

Disaster Assistance: DOD's Support for Hurricane Andrew and Iniki and
Typhoon Omar, GAO/NSIAD-93-180, June 18, 1993.

Homeland Security: DHS' Efforts to Enhance First Responders' All-Hazards
Capabilities Continue to Evolve, GAO-05-652, July 11,2005.

Strategic Budgeting: Risk Management Principles Can Help DHS Allocate
Resources to Highest Priorities, GAO-05-824T, June 29, 2005.

Page 15 GAO-05-1053T Hurricane Katrina

Continuity of Operations: Agency Plans Have Improved, but Better Oversight
Could Assist Agencies in Preparing for Emergencies, GAO-05- 619T, April
28, 2005.

Homeland Security Management of First Responder Grant Programs and Efforts
to Improve Accountability Continue to Evolve, GAO-05-530T, April 12, 2005.

Results-Oriented Government: Improvements to DHS's Planning Process Would
Enhance Usefulness and Accountability, GAO-05-300, March 31, 2005.

Homeland Security: Successes and Challenges in DHS's Efforts to Create an
Effective Acquisition Organization, GAO-05-179, March 29, 2005.

Department of Homeland Security: A Comprehensive and Sustained Approach
Needed to Achieve Management Integration, GAO-05-139, March 16, 2005.

Homeland Security: Management of First Responder Grant Programs Has
Improved, but Challenges Remain, GAO-05-121, February 2, 2005.

Homeland Security: Agency Plans, Implementation, and Challenges Regarding
the National Strategy for Homeland Security, GAO-05-33, January 14, 2005.

Homeland Security: Further Action Needed to Promote Successful Use of
Special DHS Acquisition Authority, GAO-05-136, December 14, 2004.

Homeland Security: Effective Regional Coordination Can Enhance Emergency
Preparedness, GAO-04-1009, September 15, 2004.

Homeland Security: Federal Leadership and Intergovernmental Cooperation
Required to Achieve First Responder Interoperable Communications,
GAO-04-740, July 20, 2004.

Homeland Security: Coordinated Planning and Standards Needed to Better
Manage First Responder Grants in the National Capital Region, GAO-04-904T,
June 24, 2004.

Homeland Security: Management of First Responder Grants in the National
Capital Region Reflects the Need for Coordinated Planning and Performance
Goals, GAO-04-433, May 28, 2004.

Status of FEMA's FY03 Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program, GAO-04-727R, April
28, 2004.

Project Safecom: Key Cross-Agency Emergency Communications Effort Requires
Stronger Collaboration, GAO-04-494, April 16, 2004.

Homeland Security: Reforming Federal Grants to Better Meet Outstanding
Needs, GAO-03-1146T, September 3, 2003.

Major Management Challenges and Program Risks: Department of Homeland
Security, GAO-03-102, January 2003.

Homeland Security: Critical Design and Implementation Issues, GAO-02-957T,
July 17, 2002.

Homeland Security: Responsibility And Accountability For Achieving
National Goals, GAO-02-627T, April 11, 2002.

Homeland Security: Key Elements of a Risk Management Approach,
GAO-02-150T, October 12, 2001.

Combating Terrorism: Selected Challenges and Related Recommendations
Report to Congressional Committees, GAO-01-822, September 20, 2001.

Chemical Weapons: FEMA and Army Must Be Proactive in Preparing States for
Emergencies, GAO-01-850, August 13, 2001.

Combating Terrorism: FEMA Continues to Make Progress in Coordinating
Preparedness and Response, GAO-01-15, March 20, 2001.

Budgeting for Emergencies: State Practices and Federal Implications,
AIMD-99-250, September 30, 1999.

Combating Terrorism: Issues to be Resolved to Improve Counterterrorism
Operations, GAO/NSIAD-99-135, May13, 1999.

September 11: Monitoring of World Trade Center Health Effects Has

Public Health

Progressed, but Not for Federal Responders, GAO-05-1020T, September 10,
2005.

Page 17 GAO-05-1053T Hurricane Katrina

Influenza Pandemic: Challenges in Preparedness and Response, GAO-05- 863T,
June 30, 2005.

Federal Emergency Management Agency: Crisis Counseling Grants Awarded to
the State of New York after the September 11 Terrorist Attacks,
GAO-05-514, May 31, 2005.

Veteran's Health Care: VA's Medical Support Role in Emergency
Preparedness, GAO-05-387R, March 23, 2005.

Flu Vaccine: Recent Supply Shortages Underscore Ongoing Challenges,
GAO-05-177T, November 18, 2004.

Emerging Infectious Diseases: Review of State and Federal Disease
Surveillance Efforts, GAO-04-877, September 30, 2004.

Infectious Disease Preparedness: Federal Challenges in Responding to
Influenza Outbreaks, GAO-04-1100T, September 28, 2004.

September 11: Health Effects in the Aftermath of the World Trade Center
Attack, GAO-04-1068T, September 8, 2004.

Public Health Preparedness: Response Capacity Improving but Much Remains
to Be Accomplished, GAO-04-458T, February 12, 2004.

HHS Bioterrorism Preparedness Programs: States Reported Progress but Fell
Short of Program Goals for 2002, GAO-04-360R, February 10, 2004.

Hospital Preparedness: Most Urban Hospitals Have Emergency Plans but Lack
Certain Capacities for Bioterrorism Response, GAO-03-924, August 6, 2003.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: Established Infectious Disease Control
Measures Helped Contain Spread, But a Large-Scale Resurgence May Pose
Challenges, GAO-03-1058T, July 30, 2003.

SARS Outbreak: Improvements to Public Health Capacity Are Needed for
Responding to Bioterrorism and Emerging Infectious Diseases, GAO-03-769T,
May 7, 2003.

Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Bioterrorism Preparedness Efforts Have
Improved Public Health Response Capacity, but Gaps Remain, GAO-03-654T,
April 9, 2003.

                                    Response

Public Health: Maintaining an Adequate Blood Supply is Key to Emergency
Preparedness, GAO-02-1095T, September 10, 2002.

Homeland Security: New Department Could Improve Coordination but
Transferring Control of Certain Public Health Programs Raises Concerns,
GAO-02-954T, July 16, 2002.

Bioterrorism: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Role in
Public Health Protection, GAO-02-235T, November 15, 2001.

Influenza Pandemic: Plan Needed for Federal and State Response, GAO-01-4,
October 27, 2000.

West Nile Virus Outbreak: Lessons for Public Health Preparedness,
GAO/HEHS-00-180, September 11, 2000.

West Nile Virus: Preliminary Information on Lessons Learned,
GAO/HEHS-00-142R, June 23, 2000.

Homeland Security: DHS' Efforts to Enhance First Responders' All-Hazards
Capabilities Continue to Evolve, GAO-05-652, July 11,2005.

Homeland Security: Federal and Industry Efforts Are Addressing Security
Issues at Chemical Facilities, but Additional Action Is Needed,
GAO-05-631T, April 27, 2005.

Continuity of Operations: Improved Planning Needed to Ensure Delivery of
Essential Services, GAO-04-638T, April 22, 2004.

Human Capital: Opportunities to Improve Federal Continuity Planning
Guidance, GAO-04-384, April 20,2004.

Continuity of Operations: Improved Planning Needed to Ensure Delivery of
Essential Government Services, GAO-04-160, February 27, 2004.

Homeland Security: Challenges in Achieving Interoperable Communications
for First Responders, GAO-04-231T, November 6, 2003.

Nuclear Security: Federal and State Action Needed to Improve Security of
Sealed Radioactive Sources, GAO-03-804, August 6, 2003.

                                    Recovery

Homeland Security: Effective Intergovernmental Coordination is Key to
Success, GAO-02-1013T, August 23, 2002.

Homeland Security: Intergovernmental Coordination and Partnerships Will Be
Critical to Success, GAO-02-900T, July 2, 2002.

Homeland Security: New Department Could Improve Coordination but May
Complicate Priority Setting, GAO-02-893T, June 28, 2002.

Combating Terrorism: Intergovernmental Partnership in a National Strategy
to Enhance State and Local Preparedness, GAO-02-547T, March 22, 2002.

Combating Terrorism: Federal Response Teams Provide Varied Capabilities;
Opportunities Remain to Improve Coordination, GAO-01- 14, November 30,
2000.

Managing for Results: Barriers to Interagency Coordination, GGD-00- 106,
March 29, 2000.

Disaster Management: Improving the Nation's Response to Catastrophic
Disasters, GAO/RCED-93-186, July 23, 1993.

Disaster Management: Recent Disasters Demonstrate the Need to Improve the
Nation's Response Strategy, GAO/T-RCED-93-46, January 27, 1993.

Interagency Contracting: Problems with DOD's and Interior's Orders to
Support Military Operations, GAO-05-201, April 29, 2005.

Small Business Administration: SBA Followed Appropriate Policies and
Procedures for September 11 Disaster Loan Application, GAO-04-885, August
31, 2004.

Rebuilding Iraq: Fiscal Year 2003 Contract Award Procedures and Management
Challenges, GAO-04-605, May 27, 2004.

Purchase Cards: Increased Management Oversight and Control Could Save
Hundreds of Millions of Dollars, GAO-04-717T, April 28, 2004.

September 11: Overview of Federal Disaster Assistance to the New York City
Area, GAO-04-72, October 31, 2003.

Foreign Assistance: USAID's Earthquake Recovery Program in El Salvador Has
Made Progress, but Key Activities Are Behind Schedule, GAO-03-656, May 15,
2003.

Small Business Administration: Response to September 11 Victims and
Performance Measures for Disaster Lending, GAO-03-385, January 29, 2003.

Foreign Assistance: Disaster Recovery Program Addressed Intended Purposes,
but USAID Needs Greater Flexibility to Improve Capability, GAO-02-787,
July 24, 2002.

Guidelines for Rescuing Large Failing Firms and Municipalities, GGD-
84-34, March 29, 1984.

Federal Emergency Management Agency: Lack of Controls and Key Information
for Property Leave Assets Vulnerable to Loss or Misappropriation,
GAO-04-819R, July 14,2004.

FEMA Cerro Grande Claims: Payments Properly Processed, but Reporting Could
Be Improved, GAO-04-129, December 24, 2003.

Freight Transportation: Strategies Needed to Address Planning and
Financing Limitations, GAO-04-165, December 19, 2003.

September 11: Overview of Federal Disaster Assistance to the New York City
Area, GAO-04-72, October 31, 2003.

Results-Oriented Cultures: Implementation Steps to Assist Mergers and
Organizational Transformations, GAO-03-669, July 2, 2003.

Potential Terrorist Attacks: Additional Actions Needed to Better Prepare
Critical Financial Market Participants, GAO-03-251, February 12, 2003.

Homeland Security: Management Challenges Facing Federal Leadership,
GAO-03-260, December 20, 2002.

September 11: Small Business Assistance Provided in Lower Manhattan In
Response to the Terrorist Attacks, GAO-03-88, November 1,2002.

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