CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Former state emergency services director Jimmy Gianato says he told his superiors about the effects of enhanced FEMA oversight but might have neglected to pass along a 2015 letter.
“I think if there was a mistake I made it was failing to make sure they fully understood that,” Gianato said today.
Concern by the Federal Emergency Management Agency led to the state being placed under tighter financial restrictions over the past few years.
As revealed this month in a legislative audit, higher ups in West Virginia’s Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety don’t seem to have been made aware.
Former Secretary Joe Thornton, in a signed letter, said Homeland Security and Emergency Management never notified him.
The Legislative Auditor asked: “On what date did you become aware that FEMA had forced DHSEM to use manual reimbursement for the expenditure of federal grant funds?
Thornton: “I can say I have no recollection receiving notice from any parties mentioned and I also have no correspondence in my files from November 2015 through January 2017 notifying me of any such corrective actions or restrictions placed on DHSEM.”
Gianato was the official contact in West Virginia for FEMA. His name was on the 2015 letter.
“I couldn’t find an email that I sent that letter to him,” Gianato said today. “They were well aware of the information that was in the letter, not the letter itself.”
Gianato spoke today before the Legislative Committee on Flooding, which has been examining ways to improve West Virginia’s flood response. He also spoke with reporters.
West Virginia is alone among states, aside from Puerto Rico, in having mandatory manual reimbursement for FEMA grants flowing to sub-recipients such as municipalities or school boards.
West Virginia has to go through extra steps when documenting how the federal grant money is being used.
FEMA has been auditing particular sub-recipients to make sure grant money is being properly used and documented.
During a legislative meeting earlier this month, current public safety Secretary Jeff Sandy said he had never been presented with the November, 2015, letter from FEMA.
“There was no cc on that letter. It was never received,” Sandy said.
Sandy said he checked with the governor’s office, specifying Deputy Chief of Staff Ann Urling, and no one there was aware either.
“It’s very disappointing to my staff and the governor’s staff that we were unaware of that letter,” Sandy said.
Gianato said Sandy was aware of the effects of the letter, though.
“I think ultimately he knew of the single audit issues,” Gianato said. “But as far as ‘Was there a briefing that specifically talked about manual drawdown, I don’t recall that.”
West Virginia drew FEMA’s scrutiny over a period of years, culminating with the 2015 letter.
Gianato told lawmakers and then reporters that Homeland Security and Emergency Management lacked the staff to effectively monitor sub-recipients.
Moreover, he said, the agency had all it could handle with the emergencies themselves.
“We were dealing with the five disasters in early ’15,” Gianato said. “When this letter came, we had already been working on a plan and the staff was to try to complete working on that plan.”
Gianato was removed Oct. 23 as director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, but remains as adviser.
He said today the FEMA issues weren’t the only contributing factors to that change. Gianato said another factor is his intention to retire within a couple of years.
Michael Todorovich, who took over as director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, also addressed lawmakers.
Todorovich described a variety of steps being taken to improve oversight of federal grants, including greater communication with local governments and adding staff with accounting expertise.
“If you’re not transparent and don’t lay it on the table,” Todorovich said, “you can’t fix it.”