WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is calling for answers after a recent Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report recommended that FEMA deny Lincoln County over $200,000 of $3 million in recovery aid that was previously awarded to the county, unless it provides proper documentation for its expenditures—even though FEMA gave unclear instructions over what documentation was necessary.
“FEMA’s lack of clarity could put Lincoln County on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars in tornado and storm recovery aid that they were counting on,” McCaskill said. “I look forward to hearing from FEMA about what they will do to help Lincoln County submit the documentation they need so they aren’t hurt by this decision.”
The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) reviewed Lincoln County’s use of its $3 million FEMA grant award for disaster recovery following May-July 2015 tornadoes and severe storms. DHS OIG found that over $200,000 did not have proper documentation, so it recommended FEMA deny the remaining portion of the grants. However, FEMA did not provide adequate instructions to Lincoln County over what documentation was required. “Because FEMA failed to provide adequate guidance, Lincoln County may be shortchanged hundreds of thousands of dollars in aid,” McCaskill wrote. She is requesting answers from FEMA over how it will work with Lincoln County to help it resubmit proper documentation so that the county is not denied parts of the grant.
Read McCaskill’s letter to FEMA Administrator Brock Long HERE.
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