Federal officials get ready for hurricane season

[May 20, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- After a caution from President Barack Obama, federal disaster officials said Tuesday they are redoubling efforts to close gaps in their 2009 hurricane preparedness plans.

At the same time, they warned at a news conference in Washington that any disaster preparation hinges on whether the public is ready when a storm or other natural disaster appears on the horizon.

"There are a lot of folks that are going to need very specific help that should not have to compete with the rest of us who could have and should have done the things to protect our families," said Craig Fugate, who only hours earlier was sworn in as head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the department and FEMA are redoubling efforts to fill gaps and want the public to prepare as well.

During a senior-level disaster exercise three weeks ago, federal officials noted specific disaster response needs that could pose a challenge, including evacuating special needs populations and providing supplies like food and water immediately after a major disaster, according to notes from the exercise.

The notes, prepared by the White House Domestic Readiness Group, quote Obama saying that while the government is focused on the threat of terror attacks, a hurricane or natural disaster is more likely to strike the United States. A copy of the notes was obtained by The Associated Press.

Obama also told the group that he would be very angry if, after a disaster, federal officials said they were unprepared or didn't have a plan, according to the notes.

The Bush administration and FEMA were widely criticized after 2005's Hurricane Katrina when they showed up late and unprepared. The government's disaster response functions have since been strengthened and reorganized.

The 2009 hurricane season begins on June 1, and forecasters says it will be less active than last year, when there were 16 named storms, including eight hurricanes.

Researchers at North Carolina State University say between 11 and 14 storms will develop in the Atlantic and six to eight of them will become hurricanes. At Colorado State University, researchers forecast 12 named storms, including six hurricanes.

On Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issues its outlook for the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season.

[Associated Press; By EILEEN SULLIVAN]

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