More Disaster DIRT re: Hurricane Sandy's relief FUNDS $698.5 million UNACCOUNTED FOR

[Shandi]

10th anniversary of America's costliest natural disaster, Marion McFadden, who is in charge of grant programs at HUD, said Katrina pushed the department to shy away from programs that simply handed construction money over to homeowners.

When asked during the news conference about the most important lessons of Katrina, McFadden said HUD had learned to ensure that states were implementing "real reconstruction programs" and that it's "too much to ask" homeowners to manage the rebuild or elevation of their properties without guidance and supervision.


HUD's own inspector general reported in March 2013 that $698.5 million in disaster funds — intended for Louisiana homeowners to elevate their houses — was unaccounted for.