GAO’s Preliminary Observations Regarding Preparedness and Response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

On Monday, February 1, 2006, the investigative arm of Congress, the Government Accountability Office [GAO] delivered the following report to Representative Thomas Davis outlining its preliminary observations regarding the nation’s preparedness and response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The GAO observed that emergency communications and interoperability capabilities among first responder groups were severely compromised during the response to these disasters. In addition the GAO identified a lack of “clear and decisive leadership” at the federal level and the need for strong advance planning, training, and exercise programs both within and among first responder organizations.