The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently published a report titled “Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Strengthening Regional Coordination Could Enhance Preparedness Efforts” (GAO-16-38). GAO was asked to review FEMA's efforts to enhance coordination for regional preparedness.

The report addresses the extent to which FEMA and regional offices have (1) addressed preparedness grant management coordination challenges, (2) established a system to assess NIMS implementation, and (3) collaborated with Regional Advisory Council (RAC) stakeholders. GAO found that the FEMA has taken some steps, but has not fully addressed, preparedness grant management coordination challenges between headquarters and its regions. GAO recommended that FEMA develop a plan for addressing long-standing coordination challenges with grant management, review after action reports to assess NIMS implementation, and improve coordination with RACs.

Although DHS did not concur with the grants management recommendation, GAO continues to believe challenges documented in the report support the recommendation. DHS concurred with the other four recommendations and described the actions they planned to take in response. The full report and a highlights page can be downloaded here.