July 13, 2009 - Posted by Connie Lam
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is unprepared to house people in the event of a catastrophic disaster such as Hurricane Katrina, according to Richard Skinner, inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees FEMA. The Office of the Inspector General is responsible for auditing and critiquing DHS.
When people are displaced after a disaster, they often lose not only their shelter, but their way of life: their income, all of their possessions, and their communities. Hurricane Katrina destroyed more than 300,000 homes and displaced about a million people, many of whom are still unable to return to their communities. Property damage alone was estimated at over $100 billion.
Affordable housing is the first and most critical step to disaster recovery. Once people have reliable housing, they can begin to rebuild their lives.
However, in a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing last week, Skinner stated that FEMA's high-cost temporary housing units, limited housing repair capacity, lack of clear goals and priorities for success, and lack of coordination with local and state authorities have crippled the agency's ability to respond to large-scale catastrophes.
Skinner said that in order for FEMA to be sufficiently prepared for a major catastrophe, the agency must find low-cost alternatives to using travel trailers for temporary housing, develop a plan for the quick restoration of affordable housing, and develop policies in collaboration with local and state authorities to clarify responsibilities for housing and relocating displaced people.
Categories: Housing & Lending
