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                    Most Recent Reports**1 - 20 of 495 Reports**
	
	

	
	  **Released on   Apr 10, 2024**
          Justice40: Additional Efforts Needed to Improve Tribal Applicants' Access to Federal Programs   Under Environmental Justice Initiative
    GAO-24-106511
      Published:   Apr 10, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Apr 10, 2024
.
    Underserved communities, such as Tribes, face barriers to accessing federal funding—like cost-share requirements that require participants to contribute some funding up front. The Justice40 Initiative aims to increase underserved communities' access to funding, with a goal of directing 40% of the benefits of covered federal programs to such communities. However, some Justice40 program requirements also create access barriers. For example, competitive grants can include significant...
      **Released on   Mar 14, 2024**
          Wildfire Disasters: Opportunities to Improve Federal Response, Recovery, and Mitigation Efforts
    GAO-24-107382
      Published:   Mar 14, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Mar 14, 2024
.
    Wildfires are growing in size and severity, and the nation is experiencing longer wildfire seasons. In August 2023, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century was on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Numerous federal departments and agencies have roles in wildfire preparedness, response, and recovery. Demand for related federal programs and resources is expected to increase. We testified on: Our ongoing work looking...
      **Released on   Mar 12, 2024**
          FEMA: Opportunities Exist to Address Mission Challenges and Increased Workload
    GAO-24-107351
      Published:   Mar 12, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Mar 12, 2024
.
    The Federal Emergency Management Agency leads our nation's effort to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. In recent years, FEMA has been called on to help in even more emergencies—stretching its workforce and resources. In this testimony, we discuss our prior work on FEMA's response to challenges such as COVID-19 and sheltering at the southern border. We also discuss FEMA's longstanding challenges related...
      **Released on   Feb 13, 2024**
          Puerto Rico Disasters: Progress Made, but the Recovery Continues to Face Challenges
    GAO-24-105557
      Published:   Feb 13, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Feb 13, 2024
.
    As of June 2023, FEMA has awarded $23.4 billion in Public Assistance funds for Puerto Rico to recover from the 2017 hurricanes and 2019 and 2020 earthquakes. Of that, it has spent $1.8 billion and a lot of work remains, but increased costs may lead to funding shortfalls for projects. For example, parts for the San Juan Power Plant project exceeded estimates by $3 million...
      **Released on   Feb 6, 2024**
          Disaster Assistance: Information on the 2021 Condominium Collapse in Surfside, Florida
    GAO-24-106558
      Published:   Feb 6, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Feb 6, 2024
.
    The partial collapse of a 12-story beachfront condo in Florida was one of the deadliest structural disasters in American history—killing 98 people and injuring many more. This Q&A report looks at the federal response. FEMA coordinated response and recovery efforts, including assistance for survivors and victims' families. The National Institute of Standards and Technology is investigating the technical cause of the collapse and plans to...
      **Released on   Jan 9, 2024**
          Homeland Security Grants: DHS Implemented National Priority Areas but Could Better Document and Communicate Changes
    GAO-24-106327
      Published:   Jan 9, 2024
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jan 9, 2024
.
    The Department of Homeland Security provides funds to help state and local governments prepare for terrorist threats. The Homeland Security Grant Program requires grantees to spend 30% of their funds on "National Priority Areas"—designated threat categories like cybersecurity. Almost all the areas have minimum spending requirements. To respond to emergent risks, DHS has changed these priorities over time—e.g., adding an election security area in FY...
      **Released on   Dec 14, 2023**
          Artificial Intelligence in Natural Hazard Modeling: Severe Storms, Hurricanes, Floods, and Wildfires
    GAO-24-106213
      Published:   Dec 14, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Dec 14, 2023
.
    Severe storms, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires kill hundreds of people and cause billions of dollars in damage in the U.S. each year. Forecasting models can help predict these hazards. Machine learning—a type of artificial intelligence —can help improve model accuracy, increase warning times, and reduce uncertainty. Some machine learning forecasting models are in use, but there are challenges to developing and adopting them more widely...
      **Released on   Nov 30, 2023**
          Disaster Loan Program: SBA Should Include Key Issues in Its Review of How the Program Affects Underserved Communities
    GAO-24-106682
      Published:   Nov 30, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Nov 30, 2023
.
    The Small Business Administration's Disaster Loan Program helps homeowners, renters, and businesses recover from disasters that can cause billions of dollars in damage each year. SBA has identified lending criteria—such as credit history—as one barrier to loan access in underserved communities, like those with high poverty rates. For 13 hurricanes in fiscal years 2018-2022, we found that SBA approved applicants from some underserved communities less...
      **Released on   Jul 31, 2023**
          Flood Insurance: FEMA's New Rate-Setting Methodology Improves Actuarial Soundness but Highlights Need for Broader Program Reform
    GAO-23-105977
      Published:   Jul 31, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jul 31, 2023
.
    FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program is charged with keeping flood insurance affordable and staying financially solvent. But a historical focus on affordability has led to insurance premiums being lower than they should be. The program hasn't collected enough revenue to pay claims, and has had to borrow billions from the Treasury. FEMA revamped how it sets premiums in 2021—more closely aligning them with the flood...
      **Released on   Jul 26, 2023**
          Transit Security: FEMA Should Improve Transparency of Grant Decisions
    GAO-23-105956
      Published:   Jul 26, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Jul 26, 2023
.
    The Federal Emergency Management Agency's Transit Security Grant Program is designed to help public transit agencies protect people and critical infrastructure from terrorism. Public transit agencies apply to FEMA for security improvement grants. In its "Notice of Funding Opportunity," FEMA disclosed its process for reviewing and scoring applications. But we found that FEMA didn't always follow that process, favoring some lower-scoring applications in 2015-2021. This...
      **Released on   May 17, 2023**
          FEMA: Opportunities to Strengthen Management and Address Increasing Challenges
    GAO-23-106840
      Published:   May 17, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   May 17, 2023
.
    This testimony discusses FEMA's strategic plan and challenges the agency faces when leading national preparation for and response to disasters. The agency's work is complicated by longstanding workforce management issues and a fragmented federal approach to disaster recovery. The agency is short-staffed , and it's unclear if hiring efforts will be effective. Additionally, the government's disaster response programs are spread across 30 different agencies...
      **Released on   May 16, 2023**
          Emergency Alerts: NOAA Should Take Additional Actions to Help Ensure Tsunami Alerts Reach Those at Risk
    GAO-23-105961
      Published:   May 16, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   May 16, 2023
.
    It's critical that the public receive alerts about destructive tsunamis. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration sends tsunami alerts to the public via: Emergency broadcast messages on TV and radio Emergency texts on mobile devices Social media posts and website alerts NOAA has taken steps to improve how it alerts the public, such as updating its website to allow easy access to critical information during...
          Homelessness: Enhanced Coordination Could Improve Disaster Shelter and Housing Assistance
    GAO-23-105379
      Published:   May 16, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   May 16, 2023
.
    People experiencing homelessness, who may be in shelters or living on the streets, may be vulnerable and most severely affected by disasters like hurricanes. Two federal agencies—the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)—provide funding to state and local governments that can help assist the homeless population during a disaster. However, HUD and FEMA don't regularly work together on...
      **Released on   May 2, 2023**
          FEMA Disaster Workforce: Actions Needed to Improve Hiring Data and Address Staffing Gaps
    GAO-23-105663
      Published:   May 2, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   May 2, 2023
.
    Demand for Federal Emergency Management Agency help has increased with more frequent and complex disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic. FEMA is a key federal agency that helps respond to and recover from such disasters. But FEMA has had trouble building a workforce to meet these needs. It has fallen short of its yearly staffing target since 2019—and that gap continues to grow...
      **Released on   Apr 19, 2023**
          Southwest Border: DHS Coordinates with and Funds Nonprofits Serving Noncitizens
    GAO-23-106147
      Published:   Apr 19, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Apr 19, 2023
.
    Some noncitizens are released from custody while they wait for resolution of their immigration court cases. When the Department of Homeland Security releases them, it may coordinate with nonprofit organizations to help them with their immediate food, shelter, and travel needs. One DHS grant program offers funds for these nonprofits to help local communities better manage the costs of new arrivals. In fiscal years 2019...
      **Released on   Apr 13, 2023**
          Disaster Contracting: Action Needed to Improve Agencies' Use of Contracts for Wildfire Response and Recovery
    GAO-23-105292
      Published:   Apr 13, 2023
. 
        Publicly Released:   Apr 13, 2023
.
    Wildfire season is getting longer, and the number of large fires is increasing—leaving more people and structures at risk. Several federal agencies share responsibility for leading wildfire response and recovery. These agencies often work with private sector contractors to obtain life-saving goods and services quickly. We looked at how three agencies contracted for goods and services for wildfire response. The agencies prioritized speed when ordering...
      **Released on   Nov 15, 2022**
          Disaster Recovery: Actions Needed to Improve the Federal Approach
    GAO-23-104956
      Published:   Nov 15, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Nov 15, 2022
.
    The federal government has provided billions of dollars to communities recovering from disasters, such as floods, hurricanes, and wildfires. But federal disaster recovery programs are spread across more than 30 agencies, making it difficult for communities to figure out who to turn to for help. We recommended that federal agencies identify and take steps to better manage this fragmentation across these programs. We also identified...
      **Released on   Oct 26, 2022**
          Disaster Assistance: Actions Needed to Strengthen FEMA's Housing Inspections Process
    GAO-23-104750
      Published:   Oct 26, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Oct 26, 2022
.
    After a major disaster, survivors can apply for the Federal Emergency Management Administration's Individuals and Households program for temporary housing or home repair funds. Of the 2.7 million applicants from Jan. 2018-Nov. 2021, FEMA authorized housing inspections (to determine eligibility) for about half of them. FEMA has taken steps to improve its housing inspections process. Since an Apr. 2020 streamlining effort, FEMA's inspectors are using...
      **Released on   Oct 20, 2022**
          FEMA Workforce: Additional Actions Needed to Help Prevent and Respond to Discrimination and Harassment
    GAO-23-105243
      Published:   Oct 20, 2022
. 
        Publicly Released:   Oct 20, 2022
.
    A report, based on a 2019 survey, estimated that 29% of FEMA employees experienced workplace discrimination or harassment in the prior year. FEMA has been taking action to address this. FEMA's efforts incorporated many but not all of the practices recommended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. For example, FEMA provides annual mandatory anti-harassment training to employees, but the training doesn't fully explain how to...
    
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