Disaster Relief: Reimbursements to the American Red Cross for Certain 2008 Disaster Assistance. Report to Congressional Committees.

摘要

In accordance with Public Law 110-329, GAO is required to audit the use of funds reimbursed to the Red Cross for relief and recovery services provided in response to 77 disasters that occurred in 2008 and were declared by the President of the United States to be major disasters. These disasters were due to flooding, tornadoes, and severe storms, including three major hurricanes that made landfall in the United States (Dolly, Gustav, and Ike). The objectives of GAO's audit were to determine if (1) FEMA established criteria and defined allowable expenditures to ensure that reimbursement claims paid to the Red Cross that met the requirements of the law, (2) funding had not been made available by other federal sources for reimbursements paid to the Red Cross, (3) reimbursements were paid only for Red Cross expenses related to 2008 disasters declared by the President, (4) reimbursement claims were supported by sufficient documentation, and (5) administrative costs charged to the appropriation by FEMA were appropriate and did not exceed statutory monetary limits. To fulfill its audit responsibilities, GAO examined documentation supporting FEMA's reimbursements to the Red Cross for 2008 disasters and verified that they were for costs incurred for purposes allowed by law, and that administrative costs incurred by FEMA were appropriate and within statutory monetary limits.