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Pages:
2 pages/≈550 words
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Check Instructions
Style:
MLA
Subject:
History
Type:
Essay
Language:
English (U.S.)
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Total cost:
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Topic:

What failings in Congressional oversight of FEMA were found following the response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992?

Essay Instructions:

Read the 2007 article "Congress and Katrina: A Failure of Oversight" by Jason D. Mycoff
Write a 2 page (roughly 620 words) essay addressing these questions: (include word count at end of paper)
What failings in Congressional oversight of FEMA were found following the response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992?
How were improvements made to FEMA between 1992 and 2001? What role did Congress have in this?
What failings in Congressional oversight of FEMA were identified following the Hurricane Katrina in 2005?
Did the oversight role of Congress evolve between Andrew and Katrina? Why or why not?

Essay Sample Content Preview:
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Congress and FEMA
What failings in Congressional oversight of FEMA were found following the response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992?
First, investigations found that congress was not conducting enough oversight over the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Instead, the legislative branch was delegating its oversight powers to the executive branch. This, according to studies has become common within the legislature as lawmakers focus on more interesting agendas such as reelection (Mycoff 18). Second, Congress failed to provide a better legislative charter, which outlined how different agencies were supposed to act by law in response to such a disaster. Thirdly, Congress failed by having too many congressional committees conducting oversight (Mycoff 21). Having several congressional committees overseeing response was likely to slow the organization and response from different disaster management agencies.
How were improvements made to FEMA between 1992 and 2001? What role did Congress have in this?
First, a new and experienced director was appointed to head FEMA. Also, with input from the new FEMA director, President Clinton appointed individuals with extensive experience in disaster management (Mycoff 21). This helped to replace the preceding leadership of persons inexperienced in disaster management. Second, a change in protocol and procedure was made to smoothen the rate of response. Also, cumbersome regulations were eliminated to increase FEMA’s rate of response. Thirdly, instead of waiting for a state to get assistance, FEMA initiated pre-event disaster mobilization. The agency also went ahead to stage relief supply sections in areas prone to hurricanes and storm disasters. Also, FEMA’s response time was now described in the number of hours and not days. Due to FEMA’s increased efficiency and effectiveness, the agency’s director was elevated to the presidency’s cabinet (Mycoff 22). This allowed the FEMA director better access and ability to coordinate with other departments during ...
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