Emergency Preparedness: FEMA Faces Challenges Integrating Community Preparedness Programs into Its Strategic Approach
Highlights
Individuals can reduce their need for first responder assistance by preparing for a disaster. By law, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is to develop a National Preparedness System (NPS) that includes community preparedness programs. These programs account for less than 0.5 percent of FEMA's budget. They include the Citizen Corps Program (CCP) and partner programs, e.g., Fire Corps, which provide volunteers to assist first responders. FEMA's Ready Campaign promotes preparedness through mass media. GAO was asked to review federal efforts to promote community preparedness. GAO was asked to address (1) challenges, if any, FEMA faces in measuring the performance of CCP, its partner programs, and the Ready Campaign, and (2) actions, if any, FEMA has taken to develop a strategy to encompass how these programs are to operate within the context of the NPS. GAO analyzed documents on preparedness plans and strategies and compared reported performance data with observations during 12 site visits, selected primarily on the basis of major disasters. While not projectable, the results add insight.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Emergency Management Agency | To better ensure that national community preparedness efforts are effective and completed in a timely fashion, the Administrator of FEMA should examine the feasibility of developing various approaches for ensuring the accuracy of registration data of local Citizen Corps Councils and partner programs. |
Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) officials reported that the agency launched a new Citizen Corps/CERT Registration and Profile data tool in January 2011 to improve the accuracy of both programs. To remain in the Citizen Corps/CERT databases, registrants were required to re-apply. The registration data and supporting information for all applicants were reviewed for accuracy and approval by the State Program Manager, according to FEMA. Councils and CERT Programs are asked to update information periodically to ensure accurate data is displayed on the website, but to provide updates at least twice a year. State Program Managers have the responsibility to ensure the posted data on Councils and CERT Programs within their state are accurate and have editing rights to update content, FEMA officials said. We believe these efforts will help ensure that data on Citizens Corps Councils and CERT programs are more accurate.
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| Federal Emergency Management Agency | To better ensure that national community preparedness efforts are effective and completed in a timely fashion, the Administrator of FEMA should develop plans including timelines and milestone dates for completing and implementing (1) NPD's strategic plan and (2) its Community Preparedness Strategic Approach, including details on how Citizen Corps, partner programs, and the Ready Campaign are to operate within the context of the National Preparedness System. |
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials indicated that Citizen Corps and CERT (a partner program) are now linked with the agency's response to Presidential Policy Directive-8, issued on March 30, 2011. The directive, in part, states "The Secretary of Homeland Security shall coordinate a comprehensive campaign to build and sustain national preparedness, including public outreach and community-based and private-sector programs to enhance national resilience...." To execute this campaign, FEMA reports that it will engage members of the public, among other things, through local Citizen Corps Councils and CERT. FEMA provided a Plan of Action and Milestones for the National Community Preparedness Initiative. The action plan includes steps for Local Community-Based Engagement and Action, including Citizen Corps and CERT, including milestones. We believe this action responds to our recommendation.
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