Transportation-Disadvantaged Populations: Actions Needed to Clarify Responsibilities and Increase Preparedness for Evacuations
GAO-07-44
Published: Dec 22, 2006. Publicly Released: Dec 22, 2006.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
During the evacuation of New Orleans in response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, many of those who did not own a vehicle and could not evacuate were among the over 1,300 people who died. This raised questions about how well state and local governments, primarily responsible for disaster planning, integrate transportation-disadvantaged populations into such planning. GAO assessed the challenges and barriers state and local officials face; how prepared these governments are and steps they are taking to address challenges and barriers; and federal efforts to provide evacuation assistance. GAO reviewed evacuation plans; Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Transportation (DOT), and other studies; and interviewed officials in five major city and four state governments.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Homeland Security | To improve federal, state, and local preparedness for the evacuation of transportation-disadvantaged populations, the Secretary of Homeland Security should clarify, in the National Response Plan, that FEMA is the lead and coordinating agency to provide evacuation assistance when state and local governments are overwhelmed, and also clarify the supporting federal agencies and their responsibilities. |
In December 2006 we reported that while the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Transportation (DOT) had taken action to improve the federal government's ability to provide evacuation assistance when state and local governments are overwhelmed by a catastrophic disaster, gaps remained. Specifically, we found that because DHS had not clarified in its National Response Plan the lead, coordinating, and supporting federal agencies to provide evacuation support, it could not ensure that it was taking the necessary steps to prepare for evacuating transportation-disadvantaged populations, and that in a future catastrophic disaster, this could contribute to leaving behind of some of society's most vulnerable populations. We recommended that the Secretary of Homeland Security clarify, in revisions to the National Response Plan, that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an agency within DHS, is the lead agency to provide evacuation assistance when state and local governments are overwhelmed, and also clarify the responsibilities of supporting federal agencies. In 2010, we learned that DHS published the National Response Plan Framework and the accompanying Mass Evacuation Incident Annex. The Annex identified federal agencies involved in a federally supported mass evacuation and defined their roles and responsibilities for planning, preparing for, and conducting evacuations. It articulated FEMA's responsibilities as lead agency as well as the supporting roles of DOT and other agencies. Our work helped bring about important steps needed for the federal government to better plan and execute evacuation of transportation-disadvantaged populations during future catastrophic disasters.
|
| Department of Homeland Security | To improve federal, state, and local preparedness for the evacuation of transportation-disadvantaged populations, the Secretary of Homeland Security should require that, as part of its grant programs, all state and local governments plan, train, and conduct exercises for the evacuation of transportation-disadvantaged populations. |
Grant guideline revisions in 2007 and 2008 did not contain these requirements and DHS has no plans to include such requirements in the future.
|
| Department of Homeland Security | To improve federal, state, and local preparedness for the evacuation of transportation-disadvantaged populations, the Secretary of Homeland Security should improve technical assistance by (1) working with DOT to provide more detailed guidance and technical assistance on how to plan, train, and conduct exercises for evacuating transportation-disadvantaged populations; and (2) continuing to improve the organization of and search functions for its Lessons Learned Information Sharing online portal to better facilitate access to information on evacuations of transportation-disadvantaged for federal, state, and local officials. |
Actions have been taken that essentially meet the intent of this recommendation.
|
| Department of Transportation | In addition, to encourage state and local information sharing as part of their evacuation preparedness for transportation-disadvantaged populations, the Secretary of Transportation should encourage DOT's grant recipients and stakeholders, through guidance and outreach, to share information that would assist emergency management and transportation officials in identifying and locating as well as determining the evacuation needs of and providing transportation for transportation-disadvantaged populations. |
Action taken essentially meets the intent of this recommendation
|
Full Report
Public Inquiries
Topics
Disadvantaged personsDisaster planningEmergency managementEmergency preparednessEvacuationEvacuation plansFederal aid for transportationstate relationsGovernment information disseminationHurricane KatrinaLocal governmentsPeople with disabilitiesRequirements definitionlocal relationsTransportationTransportation planningEmergency evacuation