Contracting for disaster reconstruction

Abstract

The combination of more powerful and unpredictable storms and growing urban populations have led to increasing demands for disaster response and an opportunity for the logistics community to provide meaningful evaluation and expertise. In the United States, FEMA is continually updating their disaster response methods to accommodate the changing dynamics of disasters-most recently in rethinking strategies to provide interim housing for large populations of survivors. One of FEMA's most complicated challenges has been forecasting and securing the large number of skilled contractors required to complete the multitude of assessments, reconstruction projects, and rebuilding missions in the wake of large-scale storms. International governments have faced similar challenges, and through case studies and informant interviews, an evaluation of contractual structures that affect FEMA's post-disaster housing provision is presented. This thesis will present a cross case study analysis of how contracts were structured between the government and private firms hired as part of the reconstruction efforts following the 2016 flooding in Louisiana and the 2010-2011 earthquake sequence in New Zealand to find recommendations and future learning opportunities for the US government.