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Disaster Assistance: Information on FEMA's Post 9/11 Public Assistance to the New York City Area

GAO-03-926 Published: Aug 29, 2003. Publicly Released: Sep 24, 2003.
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Highlights

The terrorist attacks on New York City created the most costly disaster in U.S. history. In response, the President pledged at least $20 billion in aid to the city. Approximately $7.4 billion of this aid is being provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) public assistance program, which provides grants to state and local governments to respond to and recover from disasters. The Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works requested that GAO determine (1) what activities FEMA supported in the New York City area through its public assistance program after the terrorist attacks; (2) how the federal government's response to this terrorist event differed from FEMA's traditional approach to providing public assistance in past disasters; and (3) what implications FEMA's public assistance approach in the New York City area may have on the delivery of public assistance should other major terrorist attacks occur in the future.

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CommutersComparative analysisDisaster relief aidEmergency managementEmergency responseFederal fundsFinancial managementFunds managementStrategic planningTerrorism