Lessons Learned from FEMA’s Initial Response to COVID-19
Audit · Department of Homeland Security OIG · 2021-09-23 · about Department of Homeland Security
Report
Title
Lessons Learned from FEMA’s Initial Response to COVID-19
Submitting OIG
Department of Homeland Security OIG
Component agency
Department of Homeland Security
Type
Audit
Publication date
2021-09-23
Summary
The objective was to determine how effectively FEMA supported and coordinated Federal efforts to distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. We determined that FEMA did not have reliable data to inform allocation decisions and ensure accurate adjudication of resource requests, it did not have a process to allocate the limited supply of PPE, and FEMA’s strategic documents did not clearly outline roles and responsibilities to lead the Federal response.
Recommendations (3)
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Status
Text
1
Open
We recommend the Assistant Administrator for Response in the Office of Response and Recovery at FEMA improve the reliability ofWebEOC data by:a) developing internal controls for WebEOC to prevent incomplete andinaccurate information from being entered…
2
Open
We recommend the Associate Administrator for Response and Recovery at FEMA strengthen FEMA’s coordination during the COVID-19response and future pandemics by formally documenting the policies and procedures for making informed and consistent resource…
3
Open
We recommend the Administrator of FEMA, working with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, issue clarifying guidancedefining agencies’ pandemic response roles and responsibilities under Stafford Act declarations.