FEMA overpaid $12 million in Florida

Agency trying to recover erroneous hurricane aid

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - While defending its handling of disaster assistance in Miami-Dade County, the Federal Emergency Management Agency revealed yesterday that it overpaid $12 million in hurricane relief to 3,500 Floridians and is trying to recover the money.

The agency blamed the problem on a "computer glitch."

Last week a U.S. Senate committee announced an investigation into allegations of fraud and abuse in FEMA payments throughout the country.

FEMA officials said they have done a good job responding to the unprecedented four hurricanes that hit Florida last year and have found no fraud in Miami-Dade. The agency paid out nearly $30 million in damage claims in the county for Hurricane Frances, the Labor Day storm that made landfall more than 100 miles to the north.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel is a Tribune Publishing newspaper.