Making Better Use of Volunteers

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should incorporate the resources of voluntary organizations such as the American Red Cross into its evaluations of mass care capabilities, congressional investigators determined in a report published Thursday, but FEMA disagreed with the recommendation.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) suggested that FEMA take some measures to improve its use of the capabilities of voluntary organizations in mass care situations, citing congressional directions to the agency in the Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act to set up a comprehensive assessment system to evaluate national prevention and preparedness capabilities. FEMA, however, argued that it did not have the authority to follow the recommendation as stated because it cannot direct the activities of private sector resources. ....