Summary: The federal response to the drought of 1976-77 was examined to ascertain the nature and extent of the relief and assistance, the extent to which the programs and projects accomplished their goals, the costs involved, and the lessons learned for future relief and assistance programs. The various drought relief programs were implemented primarily by the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior, and the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Some of the emergency legislation was enacted too late and certain drought programs were not implemented in a timely manner, preventing drought victims from receiving assistance. Numerous loans involving millions of dollars were approved for projects which had little, if any, impact in lessening the effects of the drought. The eligibility and repayment criteria for the various programs was inconsistent and confusing and resulted in the inequitable treatment of drought victims. Inadequate coordination among the agencies resulted in overlapping responsibilities and duplication of effort.
