FEMA Making Changes to Hurricane Aid

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is trying to improve its aid processes after reviewing problems that occurred in the aftermath of the four hurricanes that smashed through Florida last year.

The Associated Press’ Brendan Farrington is reporting that FEMA has created a new document, entitled "Building on Success," that says the agency will use better techniques to verify the damaged caused by storms, as well as set stronger guidelines to make sure aid is given out to the correct places.

The document comes months after FEMA was harshly criticized for giving out aid in some areas of Florida that weren’t adversely affected by some of last year’s devastating hurricanes.

Farrington says that, as an example of the changes, the agency will now only pay for a disaster victim’s funeral expenses if the family can present a letter from authorities saying the death was related to the storm. The agency will also cut rental assistance from two months to one, and will only hand out the aid if documentation proves there is a need for residents to be relocated during repairs.

Other changes include: requiring inspectors to take an online test before going out into the field; background checks on inspectors; inspectors not being allowed to inspect the homes of friends or relatives, and; requiring contractors to add performance requirements when hiring inspectors.

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