FEMA's disaster management program : a performance audit after Hurricane Andrew.

Although Hurricane Andrew was the costliest storm in U.S. history, it also created the opportunity to learn what to do before the next great hurricane. This report presents the results of an examination by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Office of Inspector General. The office commends FEMA for formulating the Federal Response Plan after Hurricane Hugo and the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. However, the events in Florida following Hurricane Andrew demonstrate the need for "substantial refinements [in the plan] to deal with a disaster of such extraordinary magnitude, particularly in the first few days." The report recommends that FEMA develop plans and seek authority to mobilize resources in extraordinary disasters; create a rapid damage assessment system for immediate activation upon warning of an extraordinary disaster; obtain agreement in advance from the Office of the President on changes in the standard cost-sharing formula (currently FEMA is supposed to pay 75% and states 25% of emergency assistance and repair); seek authorisation from the president to revise the Federal Response Plan to require other federal agencies to act immediately; restructure assignments for providing mass care; establish systems for public information distribution during major disasters; reduce the complexity of the aid program for victims; and create or improve administrative support systems