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Enhancing Disaster Response for Vulnerable Populations

Explore challenges and solutions in assisting low-income individuals, families, children, and individuals with disabilities during disasters. Learn about FEMA and American Red Cross initiatives and improvements, and GAO reports on disaster assistance.

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Enhancing Disaster Response for Vulnerable Populations

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  1. FEMA, the American Red Cross, and Assistance to Vulnerable Populations Following DisastersNAPA 2017 Fall MeetingSocial Equity and Emergency Management Responses Kathryn Larin, DirectorGAO Education, Workforce, and Income Security Team

  2. Vulnerable Populations Disproportionately Affected by Hurricane Katrina • Low-income individuals and families receiving public assistance • Social Security Disability Insurance (OASDI) • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) • Food Stamps (now SNAP) • Unemployment Insurance (UI) • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families • Families with Children • Foster Children • Individuals with Disabilities

  3. Challenges Facing Public Assistance Programs • Lack of Disaster Plans • Limited Use of Flexible Service Delivery Options • Call centers and 800 numbers for accessing assistance • Internet application services • Debit cards for issuing benefits • Availability of Contingency Funding • Program integrity concerns • Improper payments • Privacy concerns around sharing of information

  4. Challenges Facing Families with Children • According to Save the Children, more than 5000 children were reported as separated from their families during Hurricane Katrina • Number of Children

  5. Challenges Facing Individuals with Disabilities • The Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 included several provisions to address challenges faced in serving individuals with disabilities, including: • Appointing a Disability Coordinator to help ensure the needs of individuals with disabilities are properly addressed • Developing Guidelines to accommodate individuals with disabilities regarding the accessibility of shelters and other facilities, and devices used in disaster operations • Ensuring that information is available in formats that can be understood by individuals with limited English proficiency and with disabilities

  6. Continuing Challenges: FEMA and the American Red Cross • FEMA has taken steps in response to the Post-Katrina Act to improve disaster services to certain populations • Established a National Emergency Child Locator Center • Established the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination • Challenges continue to affect services for individuals with disabilities • Regional Administrators do not don’t consistently include disability integration staff on the teams that are first deployed to disaster sites • Regional Administrators do not have consistent performance goals for regional disability integration staff • Regional staff do not consistently communicate with the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination

  7. Continuing Challenges: FEMA and the American Red Cross • The American Red Cross coordinates with the federal government by sharing information on: • Resources available for response to disasters • Where assistance is needed during recovery • Oversight of the American Red Cross focuses on governance and financial issues • No regular, independent evaluations are conducted of the impact or effectiveness of the Red Cross’s disaster services

  8. Related GAO Reports • Federal Disaster Assistance: FEMA's Progress in Aiding Individuals with Disabilities Could Be Further Enhanced (GAO-17-200) •  American Red Cross: Disaster Assistance Would Benefit from Oversight through Regular Federal Evaluation (GAO-15-565) • Disaster Assistance: Federal Efforts to Assist Group Site Residents with Employment, Services for Families with Children, and Transportation (GAO-09-81) •  Voluntary Organizations: FEMA Should More Fully Assess Organization's Mass Care Capabilities and Update the Red Cross Role in Catastrophic Events (GAO-08-823) • National Disaster Response: FEMA Should Take Action to Improve Capacity and Coordination between Government and Voluntary Sectors (GAO-08-369) • Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Federal Actions Could Enhance Preparedness of Certain State-Administered Federal Support Programs (GAO-07-219) • Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Coordination between FEMA and the Red Cross Should Be Improved for the 2006 Hurricane Season (GAO-06-712) • Lessons Learned for Protecting and Educating Children after the Gulf Coast Hurricanes (GAO-06-680R)

  9. Keep up with GAO @usgao Facebook.com/usgao Youtube.com/usgao Flickr.com/photos/usgao GAO push emails watchdog.gov iPhone and Android apps

  10. GAO on the Web Web site: http://www.gao.gov/ Congressional Relations Katherine Siggerud, Managing Director, siggerudk@gao.gov(202) 512-4400, U.S. Government Accountability Office 441 G Street, NW, Room 7125, Washington, DC 20548 Public Affairs Chuck Young, Managing Director, youngc1@gao.gov(202) 512-4800, U.S. Government Accountability Office441 G Street, NW, Room 7149, Washington, DC 20548

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