Is FEMA Better Prepared For Disasters?

According to a recent news report, the nation's disaster response agency has made good progress improving its planning, logistics and communications capabilities since its weak performance in Hurricane Katrina, the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general reported today.

The analysis gave FEMA solid grades in seven of nine measures of readiness while raising concerns about coordinating federal resources and the agency's ability to provide housing for displaced disaster victims.

The report pointed to ongoing problems with ensuring FEMA employees have adequate training. And FEMA is nine months late in developing a comprehensive housing strategy ordered by Congress as part of major post-Katrina legislation in 2006.