Is FEMA Better Prepared For Disasters?

According to a recent news report, the nation's disaster response agency has made good progress improving its planning, logistics and communications capabilities since its weak performance in Hurricane Katrina, the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general reported today.

The analysis gave FEMA solid grades in seven of nine measures of readiness while raising concerns about coordinating federal resources and the agency's ability to provide housing for displaced disaster victims.

The report pointed to ongoing problems with ensuring FEMA employees have adequate training. And FEMA is nine months late in developing a comprehensive housing strategy ordered by Congress as part of major post-Katrina legislation in 2006.

More FEMA News

The last thing someone who needs FEMA assistance wants to hear is "may", "might", and "unclear". The latest FEMA news, however, does not help clear up how those in need will be assisted:

The federal government Friday announced an infusion of more than $1 million that will keep private case-management workers on the job at least two more months, helping more than 4,000 Louisiana families still trying to recover from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Beyond that, FEMA announced it will provide an undetermined amount of money to finance more case-management work until the spring of 2009. One FEMA official said that second-phase money might target families still in temporary housing, although much about that initiative remained unclear.

Financing case management is one thing; but what exactly will those case managers be doing?