Date of Award
2-28-2023
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Abstract
This study explored FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program and the implementation of the Small Project Efficient and Effective Disaster Recovery Act (SPEED Act) to analyze their effectiveness and efficiency in response to COVID-19. The SPEED Act raised the large project threshold for PA from $131,100 to $1,000,000 to increase the number of small projects which would otherwise be audited at 100%. The act creates significantly more room for error and increases the possibility of overpaying on PA reimbursements. Although FEMA acknowledges that the risk of overpaying these projects has always existed, overpayments may now surpass hundreds of thousands of dollars. Peer reviewed literature describes the need for adequate input from stakeholders in creating public policy, the risks created through methodologies used by agencies responding to disasters, and the value in seeking long-term, sustainable solutions. Surveying stakeholders and analyzing actual PA reimbursements provided data that is not assumed or estimated, which was used to test the methodologies within the SPEED Act. This study identified trends, gaps, and redundancies that can be addressed for increased efficiency and effectiveness in future administration of FEMA’s Public Assistance program. Key Terms: Public Assistance, FEMA, COVID-19, Federal funding, SPEED Act, Disaster Risk Reduction, Emergency Management.
Recommended Citation
Nine, David J., "FEMA Public Assistance: Analysis, Considerations, and Implications of the Small Project Efficient and Effective Disaster Recovery Act" (2023). EMPA Capstones. 247.
https://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/capstones/247