WASHINGTON, DC-- The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General has released a report titled, “A Performance Review of FEMA’s Disaster Management Activities in Response to Hurricane Katrina.” Senator Collins, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and is in the process of completing the committee’s investigation into the government’s preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina, has released this statement:
"The IG’s report on FEMA’s response to Hurricane Katrina thoroughly highlights the unacceptable failures of the agency's natural disaster preparation and response systems. The report provides useful information that will be of assistance as our committee completes its final report on Hurricane Katrina. The IG's report further underscores the need for fundamental changes to ensure a better response to future disasters.”
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has held 21 hearings, interviewed over 290 witnesses and reviewed over 820,000 documents throughout the course of their bipartisan investigation into the government’s preparation and response to Hurricane Katrina. The information gathered throughout this five-month process, in compilation with the IG’s and other outside reports, will allow the Committee to make appropriate recommendations for improvements to our natural disaster response system.