Rep. Thompson, Sen. Warren release report on disaster recovery barriers, equitable outcomes

U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) released a report Thursday from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Federal Government disaster recovery programming and equitable outcomes.

The report, “Disaster Recovery: Additional Actions Needed to Identify and Address Potential Recovery Barriers,” found a lack of data on equitable recovery, which makes it difficult to conclude the impact of Federal programs on recovery outcomes. The GAO found disaster recovery programs help some communities, like small towns, rural communities, and tribal nations that lack the resources for full disaster recovery more than they do others, like cities with significant tax revenue.

“Recent reports have detailed the lack of equity in Federal disaster assistance,” Thompson and Warren said. “It is clear the Federal Government must do more to ensure every survivor receives the assistance they need after disaster strikes.”

The Congress members said that while the Biden Administration has taken steps to address barriers and reduce disparate outcomes for disaster survivors, the federal government has more work.

“With climate change continuing to make natural disasters more costly and destructive, it is critical that we redouble our efforts to be sure all our communities are being served by our recovery programs and are given the chance to fully recover,” the Congress members said.

The GAO recommended that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Small Business Administration (SBA) collaborate on an interagency effort to collect and analyze data on outcomes and to implement routine processes to address barriers and reduce disparate outcomes.