Today's Article
FEMA lacks the ability
to fully determine its
emergency
preparedness, says a
recent Government
Accountability Office
(GAO) study.
to fully determine its
emergency
preparedness, says a
recent Government
Accountability Office
(GAO) study.
The American Spark
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FEMA Unsure Of Emergency Preparedness, Says Gov't Study
By Cliff Montgomery - July 6th, 2009
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) lacks the ability to fully determine its emergency
preparedness--even though since 2003 the federal government has spent nearly $5 billion on FEMA security
initiatives, according to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) study.
The GAO, known as "the investigative arm of Congress," released the report on July 2nd. Below The
American Spark supplies some of the most essential quotes from the study. We also provide the entire GAO
report for those who would rather peruse it for themselves.
"From fiscal year 2003 through fiscal year 2009, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allocated about
$5 billion for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant program to enhance regional preparedness
capabilities in the nation's highest risk urban areas (UASI regions). The Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) administers this program.
"The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (9/11 Act) required FEMA to
change the size of the geographical areas used to assess UASI regions’ risk. The conference report
accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2008 directed GAO to assess FEMA’s
efforts to build regional preparedness through the UASI program, and determine how the 9/11 Act change
affected UASI regions.
"This report [therefore] addresses:
(1) the extent to which FEMA assesses how UASI regions’ collaborative efforts build preparedness
capabilities, and
(2) how UASI officials described their collaboration efforts and changes resulting from the 9/11 Act."
What GAO Found
"Although FEMA has gathered and summarized data on UASI regions’ funding for specific projects and
related preparedness priorities and capabilities, it does not have measures to assess how UASI regions’
collaborative efforts have built preparedness capabilities.
"An executive directive, Departmental policy, and agency guidance all require that preparedness priorities and
capabilities be measurable so that FEMA can determine current capabilities, gaps, and assess national
resource needs. To report on the performance of the UASI program, FEMA has gathered data on UASI
regions’ funding for projects and the goals and objectives those projects support, including the National Priority
to Expand Regional Collaboration.
"However, FEMA’s assessments do not provide a means to measure the effect UASI regions’ projects have
on building regional preparedness capabilities—the goal of the UASI program.
"FEMA acknowledged a lack of specific measures that define how or whether national priorities—including
expanding regional collaboration—are achieved. In the absence of measures, FEMA directed states to
describe their collaborative activities. However, these state activities do not provide a means to assess how
regional collaboration activities help build preparedness capabilities.
"FEMA has an effort underway to establish a comprehensive assessment system to appraise the nation’s
preparedness capabilities. FEMA could build upon its current efforts to assess overall preparedness by
developing and including measures related to the collaboration efforts of UASI regions and their effect on
building regional preparedness. This could provide FEMA with more meaningful information on the return on
investment of the $5 billion it has allocated to the UASI program to date."
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark e-
newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
By Cliff Montgomery - July 6th, 2009
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) lacks the ability to fully determine its emergency
preparedness--even though since 2003 the federal government has spent nearly $5 billion on FEMA security
initiatives, according to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) study.
The GAO, known as "the investigative arm of Congress," released the report on July 2nd. Below The
American Spark supplies some of the most essential quotes from the study. We also provide the entire GAO
report for those who would rather peruse it for themselves.
"From fiscal year 2003 through fiscal year 2009, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allocated about
$5 billion for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant program to enhance regional preparedness
capabilities in the nation's highest risk urban areas (UASI regions). The Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) administers this program.
"The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (9/11 Act) required FEMA to
change the size of the geographical areas used to assess UASI regions’ risk. The conference report
accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2008 directed GAO to assess FEMA’s
efforts to build regional preparedness through the UASI program, and determine how the 9/11 Act change
affected UASI regions.
"This report [therefore] addresses:
(1) the extent to which FEMA assesses how UASI regions’ collaborative efforts build preparedness
capabilities, and
(2) how UASI officials described their collaboration efforts and changes resulting from the 9/11 Act."
What GAO Found
"Although FEMA has gathered and summarized data on UASI regions’ funding for specific projects and
related preparedness priorities and capabilities, it does not have measures to assess how UASI regions’
collaborative efforts have built preparedness capabilities.
"An executive directive, Departmental policy, and agency guidance all require that preparedness priorities and
capabilities be measurable so that FEMA can determine current capabilities, gaps, and assess national
resource needs. To report on the performance of the UASI program, FEMA has gathered data on UASI
regions’ funding for projects and the goals and objectives those projects support, including the National Priority
to Expand Regional Collaboration.
"However, FEMA’s assessments do not provide a means to measure the effect UASI regions’ projects have
on building regional preparedness capabilities—the goal of the UASI program.
"FEMA acknowledged a lack of specific measures that define how or whether national priorities—including
expanding regional collaboration—are achieved. In the absence of measures, FEMA directed states to
describe their collaborative activities. However, these state activities do not provide a means to assess how
regional collaboration activities help build preparedness capabilities.
"FEMA has an effort underway to establish a comprehensive assessment system to appraise the nation’s
preparedness capabilities. FEMA could build upon its current efforts to assess overall preparedness by
developing and including measures related to the collaboration efforts of UASI regions and their effect on
building regional preparedness. This could provide FEMA with more meaningful information on the return on
investment of the $5 billion it has allocated to the UASI program to date."
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark e-
newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
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