Shaveta Bansal - All Headline News Contributor
Washington D.C. (AHN) - In a 160-page report reviewing the federal analysis about nations' preparedness for catastrophes, the Homeland Security Department concluded that most American cities and states are unrehearsed for any major disaster.
The AP says, the report which analyzes response and evacuation procedures for all 50 states, the nation's 75 largest cities and six U.S. territories, comes nearly five years after the 9/11 attacks and 10 months after Hurricane Katrina.
Citing the loopholes in the state and city emergency response plans the analysis revealed that although the emergency plans appear to be stronger in 18 states along the nation's "Hurricane Belt," a flawed preparedness was noticed in 131 state and city emergency response plans.
It says the nationwide response plans for major disasters are obsolete and often uncoordinated.
The review found, "Time and again, these factors extract a severe penalty in the midst of a crisis: precious time is consumed in the race to correct the misperceptions of federal, state and local responders about roles, responsibilities and actions."
The review which had been ordered by President Bush in his September 15th speech last year in New Orleans, weeks after Katrina ravaged the city, was delivered to Congress Thursday.
According to the copy of the review obtained by the AP, the report criticized the states and cities for ill planning in areas of mass care, issuance of disaster warnings and designation of a clear chain of command during major disasters.
The report said that the 18 states from Maine to Texas that come under Hurricane belt were more prepared for the disasters than rest of the nation.
The review is the latest in a series of government and expert analyses since Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast last Aug. 29.
The latest report was released as the Senate sent President Bush a $94.5 billion emergency spending bill that included funds for new aid for Gulf Coast hurricane victims.
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