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Audits, Inspections, and Evaluations

Report Number Title Issue Date Fiscal Year
OIG-16-140-D The Town of North Hempstead, New York, (Town) received a $36.6 million Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant award for damages from Hurricane Sandy, which occurred in October 2012. We audited four projects totaling $20.9 million for debris removal and emergency protective services.

>FEMA Should Recover $9.9 Million of $36.6 Million Awarded to the Town of North Hempstead, New York, for Hurricane Sandy Damages 		2016
OIG-16-141 The Reducing Over- Classification Act requires Federal Government Inspectors General of departments that make original classification determinations to conduct no less than two evaluations of their agencies’ classification policies, procedures, rules, and regulations. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented the two recommendations from our first evaluation. In this second evaluation, we assessed DHS’ progress in its classification management program after implementing the recommendations. What We

>DHS Has Not Trained Classified Network Users on the Classification Management Tool 		2016
OIG-16-138 In 2012, we reported on DHS’ challenges in implementing an effective information technology (IT) management program. FITARA was enacted in 2014 to institutionalize IT reform across the Federal Government. We conducted this audit to determine the extent to which DHS has implemented FITARA to improve department-wide IT management and oversight.

>DHS’ Progress in Implementing the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act 		2016
OIG-16-137-D At the time of our audit, FEMA estimated that the City of Eureka, Missouri (City), had sustained approximately $1.5 million in damages from flooding in December 2015. We conducted the audit early in the grant process to identify areas where the City may need additional technical assistance or monitoring to ensure compliance with Federal procurement requirements.

>City of Eureka, Missouri, Needs Additional Assistance and Monitoring to Ensure Proper Management of Its $1.5 Million FEMA Grant 		2016
OIG-16-136-D Calaveras County, California (County), received a $10.8 million grant for damages from the September 2015 Butte Fire. We conducted this audit early in the grant process to identify areas where the County may need additional technical assistance or monitoring to ensure compliance.

>Calaveras County, California, Needs Additional State and FEMA Assistance in Managing Its $10.8 Million FEMA Grant ( 		2016
OIG-16-135-D Hope Academy (Hope) in D’Iberville, Mississippi, received a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance award of $3.5 million for damages Hurricane Katrina caused in August 2005. Both FEMA and the Office of Inspector General had concerns about the eligibility of Hope as an applicant for assistance and about Hope’s purchase of land for permanent relocation of damaged properties.

>FEMA Should Recover $3.4 Million of the $3.5 Million Awarded to Hope Academy for Hurricane Katrina Damages 		2016
OIG-16-131 We evaluated the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) enterprise-wide security program for Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information intelligence systems. We assessed DHS programs for continuous monitoring management, configuration management, identity and access management, incident response and reporting, risk management, security training, plans of actions and milestones, remote access management, contingency planning, and contractor systems. This report will be issued to the Office of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, in accordance with reporting instructions dated May 10, 2016.

>Review of DHS’ Information Security Program for Intelligence Systems for Fiscal Year 2016 		2016
OIG-16-132-D The April 17, 2013 fertilizer plant explosion devastated the City of West, Texas, killing 15 and leveling homes in a 5-block radius. The West School Administration (School District) received $63.4 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funds from the Texas Division of Emergency Management, a FEMA grantee, for emergency and permanent recovery work.

>FEMA Miscalculated the 50 Percent Rule when Deciding to Replace School Buildings after the West, Texas Explosion 		2016
OIG-16-133-D The Ouachita Parish Police Jury, Louisiana (Ouachita Parish), sustained potential damages of approximately $3.7 million from severe storms and flooding in March 2016. We conducted this audit early in the grant process to identify areas where the parish may need additional technical assistance or monitoring to ensure compliance with Federal requirements.

>Louisiana Should Provide the Ouachita Parish Police Jury Assistance in Managing FEMA Grant Funds 		2016
OIG-16-134 We sought to determine whether the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has an intelligence-driven, risk-based security strategy that informs security and resource decisions across all transportation modes.

>Transportation Security Administration Needs a Crosscutting Risk-Based Security Strategy 		2016
OIG-16-130 When aliens apply for U.S. citizenship, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) obtains information about their immigration history through fingerprint records. Our objective was to determine whether USCIS uses these records effectively during the naturalization process.

>Potentially Ineligible Individuals Have Been Granted U.S.Citizenship Because of Incomplete Fingerprint Records 		2016
OIG-16-125-D The Long Beach City School District, New York (District) received a $35.5 million Public Assistance grant award from the New York Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (New York), a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grantee, for damages from Hurricane Sandy that occurred in October 2012.

>Long Beach City School District in New York Generally Accounted For and Expended FEMA Public Assistance Funds Properly 		2016
OIG-16-127-D We conducted this audit to gain a better understanding of the problem and identify ways FEMA can improve Reservist performance.

>FEMA Can Enhance Readiness with Management of Its Disaster Incident Workforce 		2016
OIG-16-129 The Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 (Charge Card Act) requires the Office of Inspector General to conduct an annual risk assessment on agency charge card programs. We conducted this risk assessment to determine whether the Department of Homeland Security implemented sufficient internal controls to prevent illegal, improper, and erroneous purchases and payments.

>Fiscal Year 2015 Risk Assessment of the DHS Bank Card Program Indicates Moderate Risk 		2016
OIG-16-126-D FEMA grants billions of dollars each year to recipients that contract for services to help communities respond to and recover from disasters. We performed this audit to assess the extent to which FEMA has allowed contract costs we questioned for noncompliance with Federal procurement requirements. We also assessed whether FEMA has granted an exception to procurement requirements for a class of grants, rather than on a case-by-case basis.

>FEMA Can Do More to Improve Public Assistance Grantees’ and Subgrantees’ Compliance with Federal Procurement Rules 		2016
OIG-16-124-D The Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) received a $7.6 million Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant award from the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (Nebraska), a FEMA grantee, for damages it sustained from severe storms, tornadoes, straight line winds, and flooding in May 2014. Our audit objective was to determine whether NPPD accounted for and expended FEMA funds according to Federal requirements. What We

>Nebraska Public Power District Properly Managed FEMA Grant Funds Awarded for May 2014 Storms 		2016
OIG-16-128 We conducted this audit to determine whether TSA’s background check processes ensure only eligible individuals receive credentials and remain in the program.

>TWIC Background Checks are Not as Reliable as They Could Be 		2016
OIG-16-123 In response to a request from Senator Tom Coburn, we reviewed U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Professional Responsibility’s (OPR) actions to determine whether its collection, storage, and sharing of sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) violated the Privacy Act of 1974 or Department policies. We also sought to determine whether CBP OPR’s policies and training for protecting sensitive PII are adequate.

>CBP's Office of Professional Responsibility's Privacy Policies and Practices 		2016
OIG-16-122-D The severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding,landslides, and mudslides during December 6–23, 2015, caused severe damageto the City of Portland, Oregon (City). City officials estimate that disaster-related costs may exceed $11 million. We conducted this audit early in the PublicAssistance process to identify areas where the Citymay need additional technical assistance or monitoring to ensure compliance with Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines.

>Portland, Oregon, Has Adequate Policies, Procedures, and Business Practices to Manage Its FEMA Grant Funding 		2016
OIG-16-121-D Washington County, Florida, (County) received an award of $13.9 million from the Florida Division of Emergency Management Agency (Florida), a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grantee, for damages resulting from a July 2013 flood. We audited 14 projects totaling $3.6 million. Our audit objective was to determine whether the County accounted for and expended FEMA funds according to Federal requirements.

>Washington County, Florida, Effectively Managed FEMA Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded for a July 2013 Flood 		2016
OIG-16-120-D FEMA estimated that the County had sustained approximately $1.97 million in damages from severe storms and flooding in late 2015. We conducted this audit early in the grant process to identify areas where the County may need additional technical assistance or monitoring to ensure compliance with Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines.

>Phelps County, Missouri, Needs Additional Assistance and Monitoring to Ensure Proper Management of Its $1.97 Million FEMA Grant 		2016
OIG-16-118-D Wisner-Pilger Public Schools (Wisner-Pilger) received a $7.9 million Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant award for damages from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding in June 2014. We conducted this audit early in the grant process to identify areas where Wisner-Pilger may need additional technical assistance or monitoring to ensure compliance.

>Wisner-Pilger Public Schools, Nebraska, Took Corrective Actions to Comply with Federal Grant Award Requirements 		2016
OIG-16-119-D The City of Louisville (City), Mississippi, received a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance award of $51.7 million for damages resulting from April 2014 storms. We reviewed Project 104 totaling $47.3 million for compliance with the Public Assistance AlternativeProcedures Pilot (PAAP) Program authorized by the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013.

>FEMA Improperly Awarded $47.3 Million to the City of Louisville, Mississippi 		2016
OIG-16-117-D Ocean County, New Jersey (County) received a $105 million Public Assistance grant award from the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (New Jersey), a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grantee, for Hurricane Sandy damages in October 2012. Our audit objective was to determine whether the County accounted for and expended FEMA funds according to Federal requirements.

>Ocean County, New Jersey, Generally Accounted for and Expended FEMA Public Assistance Funds Properly 		2016
OIG-16-116-D At the time of our audit, the City of Hazelwood, Missouri (City), estimated it had sustained approximately $3.3 million in damages from flooding in December 2015. We conducted this audit early in the grant process to identify areas where the City may need additional technical assistance and monitoring to ensure compliance with Federal requirements.

>City of Hazelwood, Missouri, Needs Additional Assistance and Monitoring to Ensure Proper Management of Its Federal Grant 		2016
OIG-16-115-D Mississippi received a $29.9 million Hazard Mitigation grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the state’s Coastal Retrofit Program (Program). The goal of the Program was to help 2,000 Mississippi homeowners strengthen their homes against wind damages in future disasters. We received complaints that the state was mishandling Federal funds for this Program.

>FEMA Should Suspend All Grant Payments on the $29.9 Million Coastal Retrofit Program Until Mississippi Can Properly Account for Federal Funds 		2016
OIG-16-114-D The Village of Pilger, Nebraska (Village), received a $5.6 million Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) award for damages resulting from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding in June 2014. We conducted this audit early in the grant process to identify areas where the Village may need additional technical assistance or monitoring to ensure compliance.

>The Village Of Pilger, Nebraska, Took Corrective Actions to Comply with Federal Grant Award Requirements 		2016
OIG-16-113-VR ICE Still Struggles to Hire and Retain Staff for Mental Health Cases in Immigration Detention 2016
OIG-16-112-D Nashville-Davidson County, Tennessee (County) received a net grant award of $69.8 million from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (Tennessee), a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grantee, for damages resulting from a May 2010 flood. We audited 14 projects for emergency work totaling $19.3 million, or 71 percent of the $27.2 million awarded for emergency work.

>FEMA Should Recover $2.2 Million of $27.2 Million in Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded to Nashville-Davidson County, Tennessee, for May 2010 Flood Emergency Work 		2016
OIG-16-111-VR Verification Review of Transportation Security Administration's Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques/Behavior Detection and Analysis Program 2016
OIG-16-110-D The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (Board) received a $2.4 million award in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funds for damages in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding in June 2013. Our audit objective was to determine whether the Board accounted for and expended FEMA funds according to Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines.

>Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Generally Accounted For and Expended FEMA Grant Funds Properly 		2016
OIG-16-108 Management Advisory - DHS Should Better Evaluate the Performance of Its Working Capital Fund 2016
OIG-16-109-D We prepared this report to assist recipients and subrecipients (grantees and subgrantees) of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster assistance grants. We have updated this guide to include information on FEMA’s Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide (PAPPG) that supersedes many of the Public Assistance publications and individual policy documents. The PAPPG is effective for all emergencies and major disasters declared on or after January 01, 2016.

>Audit Tips For Managing Disaster-Related Project Costs 		2016
OIG-16-107-D At the time of our audit, FEMA had granted the Commission a $7.4 million grant for damages from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding that occurred in April and May 2014. We conducted this audit early in the grant process to identify areas where the Commission may need additional technical assistance or monitoring to ensure compliance with Federal requirements. What We

>The Baldwin County Commission Effectively Managed FEMA Grant Funds Awarded for Damages from Spring 2014 Storms 		2016
OIG-16-106-D FROM: John E. McCoy II

Assistant Inspector General for Audits

SUBJECT: Office of Inspector General Emergency Management Oversight Team Deployment Audits

Audit Report Numbers OIG-13-84, OIG-13-117, OIG-13-124, OIG-14-50-D, OIG-14-111-D, OIG-15-92-D, OIG-15-102-D, OIG-15-105-D, OIG-16-53-D, OIG-16-85-D, OIG-16-106-D, OIG-17-37-D

After completing an internal review of our audits related to multiple Emergency Management Oversight Team (EMOT) projects, we have decided to permanently remove the subject reports from our public website.

Our internal review found the subject reports may not have adequately answered objectives and, in some cases, may have lacked sufficient and appropriate evidence to support conclusions. Answering objectives with sufficient and appropriate evidence is required under Government Auditing Standards or Quality Standards for Inspection and Evaluation. In an abundance of caution, we believe it best to recall the reports and not re-issue them.

Going forward, our EMOTs will deploy during the response phase of a disaster to identify and alert the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its stakeholders of potential issues or risks if they do not follow FEMA and other Federal requirements. The EMOT’s reviews will not be conducted under Government Auditing Standards. The teams will continue to observe and identify potential risk areas that will be addressed by future traditional audits, if necessary.

A complete list of the projects removed from our website is attached. You should not place any reliance on these reports.

Please contact me at (202) 254-4100 if you have any questions.

>FEMA Was Generally Effective in Its Initial Response to the Severe Wildfires in California 		2016
OIG-16-105 Based on GSA’s eRETA system, between fiscal years 2003 and 2014, DHS and its components authorized more than 18,000 RWAs with GSA, totaling $4.1 billion. We conducted this audit to determine whether the Department’s use of RWAs was in compliance with statutory, regulatory, departmental, and component requirements.

>DHS' Use of Reimbursable Work Agreements with GSA 		2016
OIG-16-104-D The Louisiana Office of Community Development (OCD) received $702.9 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds for hazard mitigation grant program (HMGP) work on 9,588 properties under Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We received allegations that the timeliness of OCD payments was placing financial hardship on program contractors. Therefore, our objective was to determine whether OCD processed payments to contractors in a timely manner and according to Federal regulations, FEMA guidelines, and State laws. We did not verify the validity of costs claimed or completion of work.

>The Office of Community Development Paid Most Contractors in a Timely Manner for Hazard Mitigation Work on Louisiana Homes 		2016
OIG-16-101 The Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-576) and the Department Of Homeland Security Financial Accountability Act (Public Law 108-330) require us to conduct an annual audit of the Department of HomelandSecurity’s (DHS) consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting.

>National Flood Insurance Program's Management Letter for DHS' FY 2015 Financial Statements Audit (Redacted) 		2016
OIG-16-103-D The 2015 California wildfires caused severe damage to Lake County, California (County). County officials estimate that disaster-related costs may exceed $25 million. Our audit objective was to determine whether the County’s policies, procedures, and business practices are adequate to account for and expend FEMA Public Assistance Program grant funds according to Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines.

>Lake County, California, Should Continue to Improve Procurement Policies, Procedures, and Practices 		2016
OIG-16-102-D We issued this advisory report to notify the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of an issue that requires its immediate attention. During our audit ofFEMA’s initial response to the 2015 wildfires in Northern California, we observed personnel mishandling Personally Identifiable Information (PII) at disaster relief sites. FEMA officials need to take quick action to ensure the protection of PII in future disasters.

>FEMA Continues to Experience Challenges in Protecting Personally Identifiable Information at Disaster Recovery Centers 		2016
OIG-16-100 Since 2001, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program has awarded fire departments and first responder organizations almost $10 billion through AFG and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. We reviewed whether recipients complied with grant requirements and guidance to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of grant funds. This report on AFG grants is being issued as a companion report to our previously issued report on SAFER grants.

>FEMA's Grant Programs Directorate Did Not Effectively Manage Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program - AFG Grants 		2016
OIG-16-97-D Cimarron Electric Cooperative (Cimarron) received a $69.2 million Federal grant from the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (Oklahoma), a FEMA grantee, for damages resulting from a severe winter storm in February 2013. Our audit objective was to determine whether Cimarron accounted for and expended FEMA funds according to Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines.

>FEMA Should Recover $51.2 Million in Grant Funds Awarded to Cimarron Electric Cooperative, Kingfisher, Oklahoma 		2016
OIG-16-98 Since 2001, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program has awarded fire departments and first responder organizations almost $10 billion through AFG and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. We reviewed whether recipients complied with grant requirements and guidance to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of grant funds. This report on SAFER grants is being issued as a companion report to our report on AFG grants.

>FEMA's Grant Programs Directorate Did Not Effectively Manage Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program -SAFER Grants 		2016
OIG-16-99-D Wildfires devastated the Berkeley Tuolumne Camp from August to October 2013. FEMA expects eligible damages, before deducting insurance, to exceed $12 million. We conducted this audit early in the grant process to identify areas where the City may need additional technical assistance or monitoring to ensure compliance with Federal requirements.

>FEMA and California Need to Assist the City of Berkeley to Improve the Management of a $12 Million FEMA Grant 		2016
OIG-16-96-IQO We conducted this review as part of the planned periodic review of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) component internal affairs offices by the DHS Office of Inspector General in keeping with the oversight responsibilities mandated by the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended.

>Oversight Review of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Investigations Division 		2016
OIG-16-92 December 3, 2015 – San Bernardino Incident 2016
OIG-16-94-D Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia (County), received a $12.93 million grant award from the Georgia Department of Emergency Management (Georgia), a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grantee, for damages resulting from a February 2014 severe winter storm. Our audit objective was to determine whether the County accounted for and expended FEMA funds according to Federal requirements.

>FEMA Held Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia, Accountable for Not Complying with Federal Contracting Requirements when Managing a 2014 Public Assistance Disaster Grant 		2016
OIG-16-95 The Department of Homeland Security has a substantial number of employees who travel and work abroad. Off-duty misconduct can undermine the Department’s credibility and integrity and hinder its ability to achieve its mission. Our objective was to determine whether DHS has adequate policies and training governing off-duty conduct while abroad.

>DHS Does Not Have Comprehensive Policies or Training for Off-duty Conduct of Employees Traveling and Working Abroad 		2016
OIG-12-84 Free and Secure Trade Program – Continued Driver Eligibility 2012
OIG-16-93 We evaluated the Office of Intelligence and Analysis’ (I&A) safeguards for the sensitive privacy and intelligence information it collects and maintains. Our objective was to determine whether I&A ensures compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and policies. I&A has made progress in developing a culture of privacy. Specifically, I&A has centralized the oversight of privacy and civil liberties and has been working to ensure that it meets the requirements of pertinent legislation, regulations, directives, and guidance. I&A conducted specialized onboarding and advanced training that address safeguards for privacy and civil liberties in its intelligence processes. In addition, I&A designed intelligence oversight reviews to ensure that its employees observe the required safeguards. However, I&A has faced challenges because it did not place priority on institutionalizing other capabilities and processes to ensure timely and complete compliance with requirements regarding privacy and intelligence information.

>Office of Intelligence and Analysis Can Improve Transparency and Privacy 		2016

*NDAA, Pub. L. 117-263, section 5274 Response Received. View responses

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