United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2007-07-31 monographic deposited born digital 38 p. GA 1.13:GAO-07-1142T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1142T P0b002ee180395c2f f:d071142t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1142T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1142T GAO-07-1142T Accountability Agency evaluation Congressional oversight Disaster planning Disaster recovery plans Disaster relief aid Emergency management Emergency preparedness Emergency response Emergency response plans Emergency response procedures Federal agency reorganization Homeland security Hurricane Katrina Internal controls Requirements definition Standards Strategic planning Policies and procedures Program implementation Waste, fraud, and abuse National Response Plan Testimony A73695 The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) faces the simultaneous challenges of preparing for the season and implementing the reorganization and other provisions of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006. The Act stipulated major changes to FEMA that were intended to enhance its preparedness for and response to catastrophic and major disasters. As GAO has reported, FEMA and DHS face continued challenges, including clearly defining leadership roles and responsibilities, developing necessary disaster response capabilities, and establishing accountability systems to provide effective services while protecting against waste, fraud, and abuse. This testimony (1) summarizes GAO's findings on these challenges and FEMA's and DHS's efforts to address them; and (2) discusses several disaster management issues for continued congressional attention. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1142T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1142T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1142T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1142T.pdf GAO-07-1142T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-07-1142T Testimony GAO-07-1142T; Homeland Security: Observations on DHS and FEMA Efforts to Prepare for and Respond to Major and Catastrophic Disasters and Address Related Recommendations and Legislation; Accountability Agency evaluation Congressional oversight Disaster planning Disaster recovery plans Disaster relief aid Emergency management Emergency preparedness Emergency response Emergency response plans Emergency response procedures Federal agency reorganization Homeland security Hurricane Katrina Internal controls Requirements definition Standards Strategic planning Policies and procedures Program implementation Waste, fraud, and abuse National Response Plan