Posted On: March 2, 2009 by The Berniard Law Firm

FEMA investigating La. hurricane recovery office

FEMA is now looking into cronyism in Louisiana in the wake of federal funding provided for the recovery effort post-Katrina.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency is investigating allegations of cronyism and other misconduct at the New Orleans office overseeing efforts to rebuild the hurricane-battered Gulf Coast, officials said Wednesday.

The agency, which has endured fierce criticism over delays in the rebuilding effort, sent a team of Washington investigators to its Louisiana office last week. The agency expects a report on findings in the coming days, two top officials said at a congressional hearing on the Hurricane Katrina recovery.

Of note is the following:

In Louisiana, about $3.4 billion in FEMA assistance remains unspent — nearly half of what was approved.

Hopefully the recent attention the mismanagement of tasks FEMA is receiving will lead to positive results for the Gulf Coast.