SAVE Award 2011 Ideas

Disaster relief is invaluable. Unfortunately, it brings along with those in need, those who willfully abuse and repeatedly "scam" the system. Why not eliminate-- where we can-- applicants who commit fraud because of ease or opportunity? Initial housing assistance after a disaster is generally around $2,000.00. The fraud comes in to play in the recertification of these awards where documents are submitted with little validation.... more »

Working at FEMA, we process disaster applicant information. Many times this assistance is delayed because we are waiting to verify information. One piece of information that affects a large number of applicants is their insurance information. Can we have a way that their insurance settlement information populate our computer system with this information? Can we have IRS populate their income, have their employer information... more »

Save millions: In recent years we have seen one disaster after another. Each time the President flys to that area to declare it a disaster area and then at some point determines a disaster fund to help them. Determine from past cost what the average is and donate that amount immediately to that area or to the red cross for relief in that specific area only or donate it to FEMA which always seems to need it. The president... more »

DHS needs to promote FEMA services better in areas hit by disasters. As someone who has lived through several, I have seen taxpayers pay twice for items because they were not aware. This partial listing below was in regards to people in Downers Grove IL but I have seen it in MS and LA.
Number 10: I didn’t know there was any assistance available for the (July 19 to Aug. 7) flooding.
Number 9: I thought the... more »

After Katrina the federal government sought volunteers to go to the Gulf coast to assist in recovery and other activities.

A recent check with FEMA revealed that there is no program in existence at present to provide this ready trained and experienced force to disaster areas.

FEMA and OPM should implement a program where government employees can volunteer for disaster relief. Any training, skill set assessment, and... more »

In the administrative review in the aftermath of Katrina and other recent hurricane response, the logistics of providing ice was its own disaster. It was revealed that some truck loads of ice was available but never delivered, instead sitting in idling trucks for days on end. Other ice was being stored in refrigerated warehouses years after the need had ended.

During a disaster, ice is a very precious commodity. A huge... more »