Emergency Management Actions To Implement Select Provisions Of The Post Katrina Emergency Act

Hurricane Katrina (HK) severely tested disaster mgmt. at the fed., state, and local levels and revealed weaknesses in the basic elements -- leadership, capabilities, and accountability -- of preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. In October 2006, Congress enacted the Post-Katrina Act to address issues identified in the response to HK. In Nov. 2008, the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA had preliminary efforts under way to address most of the provisions, but also identified areas that required further action. This statement discusses basic elements related to: (1) findings from the response to HK; (2) provisions of the Post-Katrina Act; and (3) actions DHS and FEMA have taken to implement these provisions.

Emergency Management: Actions to Implement Select Provisions of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act

Hurricane Katrina severely tested disaster management at the federal, state, and local levels and revealed weaknesses in the basic elements--leadership, capabilities, and accountability--of preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. In its 2006 work on the response to Hurricane Katrina, GAO noted that these elements needed to be strengthened. In October 2006, Congress enacted the Post-Katrina Act to address issues identified in the response to Hurricane Katrina. GAO reported in November 2008 that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had at least preliminary efforts under way to address most of the provisions, but also identified a number of areas that required further action. This statement discusses select issues within the basic elements related to (1) findings from the response to Hurricane Katrina, (2) provisions of the Post-Katrina Act, and (3) specific actions DHS and FEMA have taken to implement these provisions. GAO's comments are based on GAO products issued from February 2006 through November 2008, and selected updates in March 2009. To obtain updated information, GAO consulted program officials.

National Preparedness: Actions Taken by FEMA to Implement Select Provisions of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006

"The objective of this report is to identify and establish a roadmap on how to do that, and lay the groundwork for transforming how this Nation- from every level of government to the private sector to individual citizens and communities - pursues a real and lasting vision of preparedness. To get there will require significant change to the status quo, to include adjustments to policy, structure, and mindset"--P. 2.

On Aug. 29, 2005, and in the ensuing days, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma devastated the Gulf Coast region of the U.S. and spawned one of the largest natural disaster relief and recovery operations in U.S. history. The Post-Katrina Emergency Mgmt. Reform Act was enacted to address various shortcomings identified in the preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina. FEMA is to lead and support the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency mgmt. system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation. This report describes the actions FEMA and DHS have taken in response to the act's provisions, areas where FEMA and DHS must still take action, and any challenges to implementation. Illustrations.

The results of the official Congressional investigation into the government's preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.