Oversight of the Federal Response and Recovery Efforts in Southwestern Florida following Hurricane Ian

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
   Government Operations and the Federal Workforce Subcommittee

10/08/2023 at 10:00AM

Field hearing on the federal response to Hurricane Ian.

Memo

Witnesses:

Panel one

  • Brett Howard, Federal Coordinating Officer for Hurricane Ian, Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • Thomas McCool, Federal Coordinating Officer for Hurricane Ian, Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • Marion McFadden, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Francisco Sánchez, Associate Administrator, Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience, Small Business Administration

Panel two

  • Kevin B. Anderson, Mayor, Fort Myers, Florida
  • Chauncey Goss, Chairman, South Florida Water Management District Governing Board
  • Brian Hamman, Chairman and District 4 Commissioner, Lee County, Florida

Lakes Regional Library, 15290 Bass Road, Fort Myers, Florida 33919

Hurricane Ian hit southwest Florida in September 2022, causing billions of dollars in damage and claiming over 160 lives. While federal agencies were quick to respond to Ian, the convoluted nature of the federal disaster response regime complicated recovery efforts immediately after the storm and since. While FEMA is technically charged with coordinating federal efforts following a disaster, over 30 agencies are involved in emergency response efforts. These complex interagency authorities, and the at times poor communication between federal agencies and the public, leave many residents unaware of federal benefits they may be entitled to following a hurricane. Southwest Florida continues to rebuild from Ian’s devastating impact, and many residents continue to struggle in their interactions with federal disaster response agencies.

This hearing will examine the role federal agencies played in response to Hurricane Ian, as well as southwest Florida’s efforts to rebuild from the storm. Specifically, Members will be able to inquire about the effectiveness of the federal response to Hurricane Ian, whether areas for improvement exist in the federal disaster response regime, and the nature and extent of Ian’s impact on communities in the region.