Hill concerns persist over FEMA's readiness for disasters

House lawmakers said Tuesday they remain concerned that the Bush administration might not be as prepared as it should be to handle a catastrophe or multiple disasters that occur simultaneously.

Members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee expressed their concerns during a hearing to assess how prepared the Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Guard are to handle disasters.

"As we head into the heart of what is still predicted to be a very active hurricane season, we see troubling signs that key reforms have not yet taken hold and that FEMA may still be hobbled within the larger [Homeland Security Department] structure," said House Oversight and Government Reform ranking member Tom Davis, R-Va. "Specifically, lines of authority still seem blurred and local officials remain frustrated over high-handed, indecisive and slow answers from Washington -- when they get any answers at all."

But FEMA Administrator David Paulison said his agency is better prepared to handle disasters than it was when Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast almost two years ago. He also said the Bush administration will release a new national response plan "hopefully within a week."

The plan is the government's blueprint detailing how agencies will respond and coordinate during emergencies. It was supposed to be issued last month.

"We are not going to fight over responsibilities," Paulison said. "I can assure you we will work this out. ... We are one federal government and we're going to start acting like it."

Paulison cited a few areas within his jurisdiction that still need to be improved. He said, for example, that FEMA is still overhauling its logistics system in order to have "an end-to-end view" of how emergency supplies are being delivered to disaster zones. He acknowledged that FEMA is also spending $3.2 million to dispose of ice it has in storage from the last two hurricane seasons -- action that has generated national publicity and kept the agency on the defensive.

Paulison said he has learned that storing food and ice does not make sense, saying that FEMA will contract with the Army Corps of Engineers to have food and ice delivered when needed in the future. He added that FEMA is also negotiating an agreement under which the Housing and Urban Development Department will be responsible for meeting the long-term housing needs of disaster victims.