There have been numerous complaints, testimonies, studies, reports and recommendations regarding problems with the Public Assistance (PA) program after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Congress has addressed some of them as part of the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA) and continues to monitor progress in FEMA and in the field. Our report today draws upon the existing literature and our own investigations in Louisiana and Mississippi to reach a series of findings about the nature of aid needed in catastrophes and to offer recommendations
