Preparing for Catastrophe: Management Review of the Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Program

The Small Business Association’s Office of Disaster Assistance (ODA) is the agency element that responds to disasters and administers the Disaster Assistance Program by providing low interest loans and working capital to homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations that have been devastated by disaster. Based on concerns with SBA’s response in wake of the 2005 Gulf Coast storms, Congress asked the Academy to conduct a management review of SBA’s Disaster Assistance Program that focused on the Program’s experiences over the last decade and on the agency’s efforts and actions following the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes.