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Hurricane readiness better but incomplete

WASHINGTON, May 24 (UPI) -- U.S. officials say the nation is better prepared for hurricane season but state officials say much work remains to be done, a report said Wednesday.

"Last year we didn't have a clue," said R. David Paulison, acting director of the much-criticized Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said FEMA will test revamped command procedures with states in the next two weeks and, among other improvements, a week's supply of ice and water for 1 million people has been stockpiled.

The United States is "much more prepared as a nation than we have ever been to confront a major hurricane," Chertoff said.

U.S. officials also called on 60 million coastal residents to make their own disaster plans.

Officials from Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas told The Washington Post that much work and system testing remains to be done.

"It's kind of a race: Can we get all the things people needed before the 2005 hurricane season done before this hurricane season?" Florida Emergency Management Director Craig Fugate told the newspaper.

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