FEMA Has Responded to Lessons Learned From Oklahoma City Bombing

When the President declared the Oklahoma City bombing a federal  emergency, FEMA served effectively as the lead federal agency responsible  for consequence management. After FEMA had completed its response activities, it assessed its and  others’ actions to reflect lessons learned from the response to the bombing. To ensure that  roles and responsibilities for managing the consequences of a terrorist  incident are clear and to respond to PDD 39 requirements, FEMA—alone or  in coordination with other federal agencies:  updated the Federal Response Plan and added a Terrorism Incident  Annex that includes better interagency guidance and describes federal,  state, and local policies and the structure for coordinating management  of the consequences of terrorist incidents;   added to the Federal Response Plan four support annexes covering  community relations, donations management, logistics management,  and occupational health and safety and an appendix, Overview of a  Disaster Operation;  developed a Concept of Operations Plan to guide the overall federal  response to domestic terrorist incidents and describe actions federal  agencies should take nationally and locally;  established a better liaison between FEMA and local FBI offices and  trained staff for liaison positions;  developed terrorism preparedness annexes to support FEMA regions’  response plans and provided updates of these plans to federal and state  partners; and  established a logistics and donations manager as part of the response  structure. After the Oklahoma City bombing incident, FEMA developed its first  course specifically related to terrorism preparedness in 1996 (see table 1). 3). To determine the extent to which FEMA has ensured the preparedness of  states and federal agencies to respond to terrorist incidents, we reviewed  our prior work on combating terrorism, FEMA’s strategic plan, annual  performance plans and reports, and the Terrorism Preparedness Strategic  Plan. Through 1999, 62  CSEPP exercises had been conducted.
Why GAO Did This Study

GAO reviewed the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) actions to improve its capabilities to respond to terrorist incidents based on its response to lessons learned from the Oklahoma City bombing, requirements in Presidential Decision Directives 39 and 62, and its own guidance. Specifically, GAO determined the extent to which FEMA has (1) incorporated the lessons learned from the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing, (2) ensured the preparedness of states and federal agencies to respond to terrorist incidents, and (3) ensured that states' plans are tested through exercises.

What GAO Found

GAO found that FEMA (1) has made across the board improvements in those areas identified as needing action after the Oklahoma City bombing, (2) updated the Federal Response Plan to address how federal agencies, states, and localities would work together to respond to an act of terrorism, and (3) assessed states' capabilities for consequence management in 1995 and set up a system to continue monitoring those capabilities.