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Audits, Inspections, and Evaluations

Report Number Title Issue Date Sort ascending Fiscal Year
OIG-13-39 This transition allowed remote control of processes and exposed industrial control systems to cyber security risks that could be exploited over the Internet. The National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center, a division of the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications within the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD), is the operational arm of NPPD and is responsible for providing full-time monitoring, information sharing, analysis, and incident response capabilities to protect Federal agencies’ networks and critical infrastructure and key resources, such as industrial control systems.

>DHS Can Make Improvements to Secure Industrial Control Systems
2013
OIG-13-38 We have audited the balance sheet of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) as of September 30, 2012 and the related statements of net cost, changes in net position and custodial activity, and combined statement of budgetary resources for the year then ended (referred to herein as the “fiscal year (FY) 2012 financial statements”). The objective of our audit was to express an opinion on the fair presentation of these financial statements.

>Management Letter for the FY 2012 DHS Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting Audit
2013
OIG-13-40 This review focused on FEMA preparedness grants awarded directly to local fire stations, port facilities, and transit systems, called Assistance toFirefighters rants and TransportationInfrastructure Security Branch grants, that totaled $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2011. This report conveys concerns we identified during our limited review for FEMA to consider prior to implementing its revised monitoring plans. We may revisit FEMA’s monitoring of grantees using a risk-based approach once implementation is complete. In fiscal year 2012, FEMA inconsistently applied risk indicators to determine the level of financial and programmatic monitoring a grantee received. Additionally, in selecting grantees to monitor, FEMA did not assign risk indicators to all grantees. As a result, during fiscal year 2012, FEMA could not ensure that it monitored all grantees with increased risk. For fiscal year 2013, FEMA combined programmatic and financial monitoring into an integrated plan and revised its risk indicators to better reflect grantees’ inherent risk.

>FEMA’s Use of Risk-based Monitoring for Grantee Oversight
2013
OIG-13-30 We have reviewed the accompanying Table of Prior Year Drug Control Obligations and related disclosures of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the year ended September 30, 2012. We have also reviewed the accompanying management’s assertions for the year ended September 30, 2012. ICE’s management is responsible for the Table of Prior Year Drug Control Obligations, related disclosures, and the assertions.

>Independent Review of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Reporting of FY 2012 Drug Control Obligations (Revised)
2013
OIG-13-37 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), as amended, appropriated $150 million to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Public Transportation Security Assistance and Railroad Security Assistance under sections 1406 and 1513 of the imlementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, as amended. FEMA focused grants under this program on (1) operational packages for canine teams, mobile explosives detection screening teams, and antiterrorism teams, and (2) capital projects for activities such as infrastructure protection. On July 31, 2009, FEMA awarded a transit security grant of $1,670,988 to the Northeast Illinois Railroad Corporation (commonly referred to as METRA) for one antiterrorism team.

>Costs Claimed by the Northern Illinois Railroad Corporation Under Transit Security
2013
OIG-13-36 The Department obligated about $389 million for noncompetitive contracts during fiscal year 2012. Our review of 40 contract files with a reported value of more than $174 million showed that, compared with previous reviews of noncompetitive contracts awarded during fiscal years 2008 through 2011, the Department continued to improve its management oversight of acquisition personnel’s compliance with policies and procedures. However, these personnel did not always document their consideration of vendors’ past performance when researching background on eligible contractors. As a result, the Department cannot be assured that acquisition personnel always awarded government contracts to eligible and qualified vendors as required.

>DHS Contracts Awarded Through Other Than Full and Open Competition During Fiscal Year 2012
2013
OIG-13-34 We have reviewed the accompanying Table of FY 2012 Drug Control Obligations and related disclosures of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for the year ended September 30, 2012. We have also reviewed the accompanying management’s assertions for the year ended September 30, 2012. CBP’s management is responsible for the preparation of the Table of FY 2012 Drug Control Obligations, related disclosures, and the assertions.

>Independent Review of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Reporting of FY 2012 Drug Control Obligations
2013
OIG-13-35 We have reviewed the accompanying Performance Summary Report of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for the year ended September 30, 2012. We have also reviewed the accompanying management’s assertions for the year ended September 30, 2012. CBP’s management is responsible for the Performance Summary Report and the assertions.

>Independent Review of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Reporting of FY 2012 Drug Control Performance Summary Report
2013
OIG-13-33 The objectives of the audit were to determine whether the State of Wisconsin (1) spent grant funds effectively and efficiently; (2) complied with applicable Federal laws and regulations and DHS guidelines governing the use of such funding; and (3) enhanced the ability of State grantees to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other manmade disasters. The audit included a review of approximately $43 million in State Homeland Security Program and Urban Areas Security Initiative grant funds awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to Wisconsin from fiscal years 2008 through 2010.

>Wisconsin’s Management of Homeland Security Program and Urban Areas Security Initiative Grants Awarded During Fiscal Years 2008 Through 2010
2013
OIG-13-31 We have reviewed the accompanying Table of FY 2012 Drug Control Obligations and related disclosures of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) United States Coast Guard (USCG) for the year ended September 30, 2012. We have also reviewed the accompanying management’s assertions for the year ended September 30, 2012. USCG’s management is responsible for the Table of FY 2012 Drug Control Obligations, related disclosures, and the assertions.

>Independent Review of U.S. Coast Guard’s Reporting of FY 2012 Drug Control Obligations
2013
OIG-13-27 We have reviewed the accompanying Performance Summary Report of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) United States Coast Guard (USCG) for the year ended September 30, 2012. We have also reviewed the accompanying management’s assertions for the year ended September 30, 2012. USCG’s management is responsible for the Performance Summary Report and the assertions.

>Independent Review of U.S. Coast Guard's Reporting of FY 2012 Drug Control Performance Summary Report
2013
OIG-13-29 We have reviewed the accompanying Table of Prior Year Drug Control Obligations of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the year ended September 30, 2012. We have also reviewed the accompanying statement that full compliance with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Circular, Drug Control Accounting, dated May 1, 2007 (the Circular) would constitute an nreasonable burden (Unreasonable Burden Statement). FEMA’s management is responsible for the preparation of the Table of Prior Year Drug Control Obligations and the Unreasonable Burden Statement (collectively the Alternative Report).

>Independent Review of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Reporting of FY 2012 Drug Control Obligations
2013
OIG-13-26 DNDO reported that there are currently 444 radiation portal monitors operating at seaports throughout the U.S., which are meeting the requirement to screen all containerized cargo at the 22 seaports with the most container volume. We were unable to determine whether DNDO and CBP initially deployed radiation portal monitors to ensure operational efficiency because the components did not thoroughly document deployment decisions and plans. Although all cargo is being screened, we identified some radiation portal monitors utilized infrequently or not utilized at all.

>United States Customs and Border Protection’s Radiation Portal Monitors at Seaports
2013
OIG-13-32 We have reviewed the accompanying Performance Summary Report of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the year ended September 30, 2012. We have also reviewed the accompanying management’s assertions for the year ended September 30, 2012. ICE’s management is responsible for the Performance Summary Report and the assertions.

>Review of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Reporting of FY 2012 Drug Control Performance Summary Report
2013
OIG-13-28 We have reviewed the accompanying Table of Prior Year Drug Control Obligations of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) for the year ended September 30, 2012. We have also reviewed the accompanying statement that full compliance with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Circular, Drug Control Accounting, dated May 1, 2007 (the Circular) would constitute an unreasonable burden (Unreasonable Burden Statement). FLETC’s management is responsible for the preparation of the Table of Prior Year Drug Control Obligations and the Unreasonable Burden Statement (collectively the Alternative Report).

>Independent Review of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center’s Reporting of FY 2012 Drug Control Obligations
2013
OIG-13-25 The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (HSES), a FEMA grantee, awarded the County $10.2 million for damages caused by heavy rains in August 2009. The award provided 75 percent FEMA funding for 28 large and 177 small projects. The audit covered the period August 8, 2009, through August 17, 2012, and included a review of 11 large projects totaling less than $1.5 million, or less than 15 percent of the total award (see Exhibit A, Schedule of Projects Audited)_ As of the cutoff date of our audit, none of the Iarge projects that we reviewed were closed.

>Erie County, New York, Generally Followed Regulations for Spending Public Assistance Grant Funds for Flooding in August 2009
2013
DD-13-05 We are currently auditing $12.3 million of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA grant funds) awarded to the Audubon Commission (Commission) in New Orleans, louisiana (Public Assistance Identification Number 071-U76DM-OOJ. The Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), a FEMA grantee, awarded these funds to the Commission for disaster recovery work resulting from Hurricane Katrina, which occurred in August 2005.

>FEMA Should Disallow $7.6 Million in Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded to the Audubon Commission, New Orleans, Louisiana
2013
OIG-13-24 In April 2012, United States Secret Service (USSS) employees were in Cartagena, Colombia, preparing for a Presidential visit to the Summit of the Americas. during these preparations, several USSS employees were suspected of soliciting prostitutes. In response, USSS took the following steps: (1) managers in Cartagena responded to the alleged solicitation; (2) USSS’ internal affairs office investigated the alleged solicitation; and (3) USSS revised policies and supervision staffing for protective visits. We assessed USSS’ response to the alleged solicitation of prostitutes by its employees.

>Adequacy of USSS’ Internal Investigation of Alleged Misconduct in Cartagena, Colombia
2013
OIG-13-22 The Chicago Fire Department submitted a grant application that identified six projects: five fire station renovations and one new station construction. The proposed costs for the six projects were $26 million, consisting of a Federal share of $15 million and an applicant share of $11 million. The grant application identified a Federal share of 43 percent and an applicant share of 57 percent. FEMA awarded a grant of $4.8 million to the Chicago Fire Department to construct a new fire station. The grant award did not specify an amount or percentage for the matching share. A FEMA official told us that FEMA had not specified a Federal share in the award because it knew that the cost of the new station would exceed the Federal share and its main concern was that construction of the station be completed.

>Costs Claimed by Chicago Fire Department Under Fire Station Construction Grant Number EMW-2009-FC-05246R
2013
DD-13-04 The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (lEMA), a FEMA grantee, awarded Martinsville $13.5 million for damages caused by severe storms and flooding that occurred June 1 to July 22, 2008. The award provided 75 percent FEMA funding for four large projects. The audit covered the period June 1, 2008, through May 4, 2012, the cutoff date of our audit, and induded a review of 100 percent of the total award (see exhibit A, Schedule of Projects Audited). As of the cutoff date of our audit, all projects remained open.

>FEMA Improperly Applied the 50 Percent Rule in Its Decision To Pay for the Replacement of the Martinsville High School, Martinsville, Illinois
2013
OIG-13-21 Since our fiscal year 2011 evaluation, the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) has improved its oversight of Department-wide systems and established programs to monitor ongoing security practices. I&A has developed and implemented a training program to educate DHS’ growing number of personnel assigned security duties on intelligence systems. In addition, progress has been made in collaboration with other DHS components in centralizing the planning and prioritization of security weakness remediation, streamlining system configuration management, and maintaining a current systems inventory. However, we identified deficiencies at the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in system authorizations and specialized training and incident response, contingency planning, and security capital planning at the United States Secret Service (USSS).

>(U) Further Development and Reinforcement of Department Policies Can Strengthen DHS' Intelligence Systems Security Program
2013
DD-13-03 The Illinois Emergency Management Agency {lEMA), a FEMA grantee, awarded Ottawa $16.3 million for damages resulting from severe storms and flooding that occurred September 13 through October 5, 2008. The award provided 75 percent funding for four large and four small projects.The audit covered the period September 13, 2008, through May 16, 2012, the cutoff date of our audit, and included a review of three large projects and one small project totaling $16.2 million, or 99 percent of the total award. As of our cutoff date, none of the Iarge projects were closed.

>Ottawa Illinois Elementary School District Should Obtain Required Flood Insurance or FEMA Should Disallow $14 Million in Public Assistance Grant Funds
2013
DD-13-02 The Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEPj, a FEMA grantee, awarded the Parish $5.9 million for damages resulting from Hurricane Ike, declared on September 13, 2008. The award provided 100 percent FEMA funding for four large projects and six small projects. The audit covered the period September 11, 2008, through May 3, 2012, the cutoff date of our audit, and included a detailed review of all ten projects (see exhibit A). As of the cut-off date of our audit, the Parish had claimed $5.1 million.

>FEMA Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded to St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana
2013
DS-13-03 The California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA), a FEMA grantee, awarded the City $2,307,402 for costs resulting from storms, flooding, debris flows, and mudslides from December 27, 2004, through January 11, 2005. The award provided 75 percent FEMA funding for 11 large projects and 9 small projects. Our audit covered the period from December 27, 2004, to July 11, 2012. We audited five large projects with a total award of $1,425,482 (see Exhibit, Schedule of Audited Projects). As of July 2012, the City had allocated costs totaling $2,131,549 to the projects in our review and had not submitted a final claim for this subgrant award.

>The City of San Buenaventura, California, Did Not Properly Account for and Expend FEMA Public Assistance Grant Funds
2013
DS-13-02 Subsequently, FEMA approved project worksheet versions 1 to 4 and increased funding to $830,672 based on actual costs and insurance adjustments. However, during project closeout, the Town submitted to FEMA a cost claim of $1,599,777, or $769,105 more than what FEMA approved. FEMA reviewed the Town’s submission and determined that the additional charges were associated with project improvements that substantially changed the approved SOW and classified it as an improved project—and capped project funding at $830,672. The Town has requested reimbursement for project-related costs totaling $1,599,777, and appealed FEMA’s funding determination.

>The Town of San Anselmo, California, Did Not Properly Account for and Expend FEMA's Public Assistance Grant Funds
2013
OIG-13-17 Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, and other disasters up to December 31, 2010, FEMA disbursed more than $8 billion in assistance payments, some of which were later determined to have been improperly paid to individuals who were ineligible or who received duplicate payments. The debts in question arose in part because FEMA relaxed its internal controls in order to provide expedited delivery of assistance grants to displaced disaster survivors. The relaxed internal controls involved potential payments of $621.6 million to 167,488 recipients. After reviewing all of the cases, FEMA reduced that original estimate and determined that 91,178 recipients, who received more than $371 million, were candidates for recoupment. According to FEMA, there is sufficient justification to waive the debt obligations and not to recoup payment from the other 76,310 recipients, who collectively received more than $250 million in disaster assistance.

>FEMA’s Efforts To Recoup Improper Payments in Accordance With the Disaster Assistance Recoupment Fairness Act of 2011 (4)
2013
OIG-13-19 According to the Department of Homeland Security, in fiscal year 2011, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) was responsible for 15 percent of the Department’s personal property and, between fiscal years 2008 and 2010, disposed of approximately $3.3 billion worth of such property. Reutilizing excess personal property maximizes the return on taxpayers’ dollars and minimizes expenditures for new procurements. Federal agencies are required to reutilize excess personal property unless doing so causes serious hardship, is impractical, or impairs operations. We conducted an audit to determine if the USCG’s policies, procedures, and processes ensure the proper identification and classification of excess personal property, as well as the proper reutilization and disposal of this property.

>Identification, Reutilization, and Disposal of Excess Personal Property by the United States Coast Guard
2013
OIG-13-09 The attached report presents our fiscal year 2012 assessment of the major management challenges facing the Department. As required by the Reports Consolidation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-531), we update our assessment of management challenges annually. As stipulated, the report summarizes what the Inspector General considers to be the most serious management and performance challenges facing the agency and briefly assesses the agency’s progress in addressing those challenges.

>Major Management Challenges Facing the Department of Homeland Security (Revised)
2013
OIG-13-18 The objectives of the State audits were to determine whether each State distributed and spent the grant funds (1) effectively and efficiently, and (2) in ompliance with applicable Federal laws and regulations. We also addressed the extent to which grant funds enhanced the States’ ability to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other manmade disasters. The audits included more than $924 million in State Homeland Security Program and Urban Areas Security Initiative grants awarded to the 16 States and territories during 3-year periods between fiscal years 2006 and 2010.

>Annual Report to Congress on States’ and Urban Areas’ Management of Homeland Security Grant Programs Fiscal Year 2012
2013
DA-12-03  

>FEMA's Implementation of the Mississippi Secondary Programmatic Agreement under Hurricane Katrina
2012
OIG-13-16 The objectives of the audit were to determine whether the State distributed and spent State Homeland Security Program and Urban Areas Security Initiative grant funds (1) effectively and efficiently and (2) in compliance with applicable Federal laws and regulations. We also addressed the extent to which grant funds enhanced the State’s ability to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other manmade disasters. The State was awarded $35,209,566 in Homeland Security Grant Program funds from fiscal years 2008 to 2010. This included $33,851,300 in State Homeland Security Program and Urban Areas Security Initiative grants that were subawarded to a total of one grantee and 48 subgrantees. Among the State’s subgrantees are cities, towns, and State agencies.

>The State of Rhode Island's Management of State Homeland Security Program and Urban Areas Securty Initiative Grants Awarded During Fiscal Years 2008 Through 2010
2013
OIG-13-15 Thirteen days after Hurricane Sandy’s landfall, 166,649 residential customers across three States - New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut - remained without power, in large part because of damage to their electrical systems, which prevented the electric utility companies from restoring power to their homes. Without additional government assistance, many of these homes could be without power during winter months, thus creating an immediate and undue threat to public health and safety. In response to this need, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) established the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP) pilot program, enabling residents to return to or remain in their homes as a form of shelter while permanent repairs are completed. This pr ogram will reduce the number of people in shelters or in the Transitional Shelter Assistance Program.

>FEMA’s Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power Pilot Program
2013
OIG-13-11 We audited the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program to determine the accuracy of nformation used to validate an applicant’s immigration status when the applicant had been ordered deported. Our objectives were (1) to assess whether the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program uses accurate and up-to-date information to validate immigration status of deportable, removable, and excludable individuals, and (2) if Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements is not using accurate information, to determine the rate of error with respect to verification of these individuals’ status.

>Improvements Needed for SAVE To Accurately Determine Immigration Status of Individuals Ordered Deported (Revised)
2013
DA-13-08 As of December 13, 2011, the City received PA awards totaling $12.2 million from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (State), a FEMA grantee, for damages resulting from hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, which occurred in September 2004. The awards provided 100 percent FEMA funding for the first 72 hours of debris removal and emergency protective measures undertaken during the disaster and 90 percent funding thereafter. The awards also provided 90 percent funding for permanent repairs to buildings and other facilities. The awards consisted of 25 large projects and 62 small projects. Table 1 identifies the specifics for each disaster.

>FEMA Should Recover $470,244 of Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded to the City of Lake Worth, Florida - Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne
2013
OIG-13-12 The Department of Homeland Security Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) focuses on the use of visible, unpredictable deterrents to reduce risk to transit systems. Transit Security Grants fund capital projects including Multi-User High-Density Key Infrastructure Protection, Single-User High-Density Key Infrastructure Protection, Key Operating Asset Protection, and other mitigation activities. These construction grants pay for infrastructure improvements such as installation of anti-terrorist barriers at tunnel entrances and security systems for underground and underwater infrastructure. In addition, Transit Security Grants also fund canine, mobile explosives detection screening, and anti-terrorism teams. FEMA allocated $72.2 million to four transit security capital projects and $77.8 million to 15 transit security terrorist teams.

>Costs Claimed by the Chicago Transit Authority for the Subway Security and SCADA Project – Video Analytics and Intrusion Detection, and the Public Transport Anti-Terrorism Team Program, Grant Numbers 2009-RA-RI-0106 and 2009-RA-RI-0093
2013
OIG-13-14 his report is the result of a June 2011 letter from Congressman John L. Mica, U.S. House of Representatives, requesting that we provide updated information on our 2008 report, Transportation Security Administration’s National Deployment Force. The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) National Deployment Force officers support airport screening operations during emergencies, seasonal demands, severe weather conditions, or increased passenger activity equiring additional screening personnel above those normally available to airports. In addition, officers may support other TSA functions as described in table 1 of our report.

>TSA’s National Deployment Force – FY 2012 Follow-Up
2013
OIG-13-13 The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act , as amended, to expand its staff size temporarily to respond to major disasters and emergencies. Disaster assistance employees (DAEs) fulfill this role by performing key program, technical, and administrative functions during disasters. DAEs are excepted-service intermittent employees, either cadre reservists or local hires. Cadre reservists have an initial appointment of no more than 24 months that expires on September 30 of each year ending in an even number (e.g., 2010), and may not work for more than 78 weeks (or 18 months) during the 104-week appointment period. FEMA measures deployments during the same 2-year period from October 1 through September 30 of each even-numbered year, regardless of whether an employee was already a FEMA employee at the beginning of the period or was hired during the period. Local hires have an initial appointment of 120 days, which is renewable.

>Federal Emergency Management Agency Needs To Improve Its Internal Controls Over the Use of Disaster Assistance Employees
2013
DA-13-07 Our audit objective was to determine whether the Utility accounted for and expended Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funds according to Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. As of January 4,2012, the Utility received a PA award of $3.2 million from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (State), a FEMA grantee, for damages resulting from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding, which occurred in February 2008. The award provided 75 percent FEMA funding for emergency protective measures and electrical , repair work. The award included three large projects and two small projects.

>FEMA Should Recover $701,028 of Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded to Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division – Severe Weather February 2008
2013
DA-13-04 Our audit objective was to determine whether the City accounted for and expended Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funds according to Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. As of December 13, 2011, the City received a PA award of $12.4 million from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (State), a FEMA grantee, for damages resulting from Hurricane Wilma, which occurred in October 2005. The award provided 100 percent FEMA funding for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and permanent repairs to buildings and other facilities. The award consisted of 15 large projects and 31 small projects

>FEMA Should Recover $7.7 Million of Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded to the City of Lake Worth, Florida - Hurricane Wilma
2013
DA-13-06 Our audit objective was to determine whether the Town accounted for and expended Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funds according to Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. As of November 7, 2011, the Town received a PA award of $4.6 million from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (State), a FEMA grantee, for damages resulting from Hurricane Katrina, which occurred in August 2005. The award provided 100percent FEMA funding for debris removal activities, construction of a 5-year emergency berm, and repair to roads. The award consisted of large projects and 29 small projects.

>FEMA Should Recover $894,764 of Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded to the Town of Dauphin Island, Alabama – Hurricane Katrina
2013
DA-13-05 Our audit objective was to determine whether the Utility accounted for and expended Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funds according to Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. AS of January 4, 2012, the Utility received a PA award of $7.9 million from Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (State) a FEMA grantee, for damages resulting from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding that occurred in June 2009. The award provided 75 percent FEMA funding for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and permanent electrical repair work. The award included three large projects.

>FEMA Should Recover $2.2 Million of Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded to Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division - Severe Weather, June 2009
2013
DS-13-01 Our audit objective was to determine whether the Department accounted for and expended Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funds according to Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. The Department received a PA award of $670,251 from the California Emergency Management Agency Cal EMA), a FEMA grantee, for damages resulting from severe storms, flooding, mudslides, and landslides, which occurred from March 29 to April 16, 2006. The award provided 75 percent FEMA funding for four large and eight small 2 projects.The audit covered the period from March 29, 2006, to October 12, 2012. We audited two large projects that incurred charges totaling $280, 112. We also performed a limited review of three small projects and two large projects to identify unused funds that should be put to better use (see Exhibit, Schedule of Audited Projects). As of the date of this report, Cal EMA had completed its review and FEMA was reviewing the Department's final claim.

>The California Department of Parks and Recreation Sacramento, California, Successfully Managed FEMA's Public Assistance Grant Funds
2013
OIG-13-20 The attached report presents the results of the u.s. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) financial statements audit for fiscal year (FY) 2012 and the results of an examination of internal control over financial reporting of those financial statements. These are mandatory audits required by the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990, as amended by the Department of Homeland Security Financial Accountability Act of 2004. This report is incorporated in the Department's FY 2012 Annual Financial Report. We contracted with the independent public accounting firm KPMG LLP (KPMG) to perform the integrated audit.

>Independent Auditors' Report on DHS' FY 2012 Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
2013
DD-13-01 Our audit objective was to determine whether the Authority accounted for and expended Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funds according to Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), a FEMA grantee, awarded the Authority $122.39 million for damages resulting from Hurricane Katrina, which occurred on August 29, 2005. The award provided 100 percent funding for 71 large and 44 small projects. The audit covered the period August 29, 2005, through January 27,2011, the cutoff date of our audit, and included a review of 28 large and 17 small projects totaling $86.25 million, or 70.5 percent of the total award (see Exhibit A, Schedule of Projects Audited and Questioned Cost). As of our cutoff date, the Authority had claimed $55.22 million, but had not completed all projects.

>Regional Transit Authority Needs To Insure Equipment or Forgo $62 Million in FEMA Public Assistance Funds, New Orleans, Louisiana
2013
OIG-13-10 The objectives of the audit were to determine whether the Commonwealth of Virginia distributed and spent State Homeland Security Program and Urban Areas Security Initiative grant funds (1) effectively and efficiently and (2) in compliance with applicable Federal laws and regulations. We also addressed the extent to which grant funds enhanced the Commonwealth’s ability to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other manmade disasters. The audit included a review of $90 million in State Homeland Security Program and Urban Areas Security Initiative grants awarded to the Commonwealth during fiscal years 2008 through 2010.

>The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Management of State Homeland Security Program and Urban Areas Security Initiative Grants Awarded During Fiscal Years 2008 Through 2010
2013
OIG-13-08 Regis & Associates, PC performed an audit of the State of Illinois’ management of the Department of Homeland Security’s Urban Areas Security Initiative grants for Fiscal Years 2006 through 2008. The audit was performed in accordance with Contract Number TPD-FIGBPA-07014; Task Order 0001, dated September 29, 2009. This report presents the results of the audit, and includes recommendations to help improve the State of Illinois’ management of the audited Urban Areas Security Initiative grants.

>The State of Illinois’ Management of Urban Areas Security Initiative Grants Awarded During Fiscal Years 2006 Through 2008
2013
DA-13-02 Our audit objective was to determine whether the Town accounted for and expended Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funds according to Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines, As of November 11, 2011, the Town had received PA awards totaling $5.5 million from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (State), a FEMA grantee, for damages resulting from hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which occurred in August and September 2008, respectively. The awards provided 75 percent FEMA funding for debris removal activities and repair of damaged roads and culverts. Table 1 identifies the specifics for each disaster.

>FEMA Should Recover $2.8 Million of Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded to the Town of Dauphin Island, Alabama – Hurricanes Gustav and Ike
2013
DA-13-03 Our audit objective was to determine whether the University accounted for and expended Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funds according to Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. As of October 31,2011, the University received a Public Assistance award of $41.1 million from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (State), a FEMA grantee, for damages resulting from Hurricane Katrina, which occurred in August 2005. The award provided 100 percent FEMA funding for emergency protective measures and repair of buildings, equipment, utilities, and recreational facilities damaged as a esult of the disaster. The aw ard included 118 arge and 202 small projects.

>FEMA Should Recover $5.3 Million of Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded to the University of Southern Mississippi – Hurricane Katrina
2013
OIG-13-07 The Visa Waiver Program was established in 1986 to promote international tourism without jeopardizing U.S. security. The program allows nationals from designated countries to enter the United States and stay for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate. Currently, there are 36 Visa Waiver Program countries. The Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to assess the law enforcement and security risks of Visa Waiver Program countries, and terminate a country from the Visa Waiver Program if necessary.

>The Visa Waiver Program
2013
OIG-13-06 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) includes an amalgamation of organizations that work together to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and other threats. Such collaboration requires that components establish effective communication among external and internal partners during operations. DHS established an internal goal of developing interoperable radio communications and identified common channels, and its components invested about $430 million in equipment, infrastructure, and maintenance to meet communication requirements. We performed this audit to determine whether DHS’ oversight ensured achievement of Department-wide interoperable radio communications.

>DHS’ Oversight of Interoperable Communications
2013