**GAO-07-1142T**                      Published: Jul 31, 2007. Publicly Released: Jul 31, 2007.                  

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## Highlights

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.

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## Topics

Homeland Security

AccountabilityAgency evaluationCongressional oversightDisaster planningDisaster recovery plansDisaster relief aidEmergency managementEmergency preparednessEmergency responseEmergency response plansEmergency response proceduresFederal agency reorganizationHomeland securityHurricane KatrinaInternal controlsRequirements definitionStandardsStrategic planningDisaster responsibilitiesPolicies and proceduresProgram implementationWaste, fraud, and abuse