Lessons Learned from FEMA’s Initial Response to COVID-19

Submitting OIG:

Report Description:

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. We made three recommendations that FEMA improve the reliability of WebEOC, formally document the policies and procedures for allocating critical lifesaving supplies and equipment, and that FEMA work with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to clarify the agencies’ pandemic response roles and responsibilities under Stafford Act declarations. FEMA concurred with all three recommendations which remain open and resolved.

Date Issued:

Thursday, September 23, 2021

Agency Reviewed / Investigated:

Department of Homeland Security

Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:

OIG-21-64

Component, if applicable:

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Location(s):

Agency-Wide

Type of Report:

Audit

Special Projects:

Pandemic

Questioned Costs:

Funds for Better Use:

Number of Recommendations:

View Document:

Attachment	Size
OIG-21-64-Sep21.pdf	3.51 MB

Recommendation Number	Recommendation Status	Significant Recommendation
1	Open	No
We recommend the Assistant Administrator for Response in the Office of Response and Recovery at FEMA improve the reliability of WebEOC data by: a) developing internal controls for WebEOC to prevent incomplete and inaccurate information from being entered into the system; and b) ensuring all new users receive formal training on completing, submitting, processing, and tracking of resource requests in WebEOC.
2	Open	No
We recommend the Associate Administrator for Response and Recovery at FEMA strengthen FEMA’s coordination during the COVID-19 response and future pandemics by formally documenting the policies and procedures for making informed and consistent resource allocation decisions for critical lifesaving supplies and equipment.
3	Open	No
We recommend the Administrator of FEMA, working with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, issue clarifying guidance defining agencies’ pandemic response roles and responsibilities under Stafford Act declarations.

Recommendation Number

Recommendation Status

Significant Recommendation

Additional Details

Open

We recommend the Assistant Administrator for Response in the Office of Response and Recovery at FEMA improve the reliability of WebEOC data by: a) developing internal controls for WebEOC to prevent incomplete and inaccurate information from being entered into the system; and b) ensuring all new users receive formal training on completing, submitting, processing, and tracking of resource requests in WebEOC.

Open

We recommend the Associate Administrator for Response and Recovery at FEMA strengthen FEMA’s coordination during the COVID-19 response and future pandemics by formally documenting the policies and procedures for making informed and consistent resource allocation decisions for critical lifesaving supplies and equipment.

Open

We recommend the Administrator of FEMA, working with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, issue clarifying guidance defining agencies’ pandemic response roles and responsibilities under Stafford Act declarations.

Search form

Lessons Learned from FEMA’s Initial Response to COVID-19

Related Open Recommendations