WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. Department of Homeland Security memos indicate the federal response to Hurricane Katrina was marred by planning deficiencies, The Wall Street Journal said.
The Journal said it examined internal documents and e-mail from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other government agencies and found problems with departments asking for help from other government agencies.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff deemed the aftermath of Katrina an "incident of national significance," triggering the National Response Plan. The NRP had been established in the wake of the Sept 11, 2001, attacks. But rather than provide quick relief, the designation only showed what the NRP lacked.
Attempts by agencies to contact FEMA often went awry, the Journal said, with one National institute of Health official sending an e-mail stating: "I noticed that every e-mail to a FEMA person bounced back this week. They need a better Internet provider during disasters!!"
Homeland Security Chief Technology Officer Lee Holcomb said: "We at the department are not well prepared and unfortunately, recent history had show that that's the case," the Journal reported.
