Report: U.S. Unprepared for Major Disaster

[AGENDA21]

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. is unprepared for a disaster of Hurricane Katrina's scale, according to a Senate inquiry that lawmakers said Wednesday took a critical look at failures in responding to the storm.

The final report is ``fair and tough, and it charts a course to strengthen our nation's emergency preparedness at all levels,'' leaders of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee wrote their colleagues.

The Associated Press on Wednesday obtained a copy of the letter written by the committee's head, GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, and the top Democrat, Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut. The report's title is ``Hurricane Katrina: A Nation Still Unprepared.''

Senators were to get the report on Thursday, with a public release set for next week. The committee on Thursday planned to disclose the report's 86 recommendations, said Collins' spokeswoman, Jen Burita.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5782677,00.html

[kestrel91316]

1. According to Bush's way of thinking, the gov't is not SUPPOSED to

be "prepared" for disaster. It's up to the people to prepare themselves.

Who the hell are WE to expect the government to look after the Little People???? Folks are just lazy slackers.

sarcasm off

[Lisa]

2. I thought they were talking about Bush! (n/t)