Coping With Twin Disasters: HHS Response to the 1989 Hurricane and Earthquake

PURPOSE

This inspection evaluated the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) response to Hurricane Hugo and the Loma Prieta earthquake and identified ways to improve response efforts to future disasters.

BACKGROUND

In 1989, HHS provided disaster recovery assistance and some emergency relief after (a) Hurricane Hugo devastated parts of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and North and South Carolina, and (b) the Loma Prieta earthquake caused massive destruction in Northern California. These combined disasters were the most destructive and costly this century. The Federal Government always provides financial assistance for recovery when the President declares a major disaster but only assists with direct relief when State and local capabilities are overwhelmed. The HHS provides both immediate response and long-term recovery assistance under the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which coordinates the entire Federal response. We interviewed 68 Federal, State and local officials who had firsthand experience with the relief and recovery efforts in the affected areas. We reviewed situation reports and other documents describing the disasters and the response. We did not study North Carolina's experiences.