Report: FEMA Audit Warns Brown Problems Before Hurricanes

[gabrielle01]

http://www.news4jax.com/news/5033875/detail.html?treets=jax&tml=jax_11pm&ts=T&tmi=jax_11pm_1_10000209282005

WASHINGTON -- An internal Federal Emergency Management Agency audit released Wednesday shows former director Michael Brown was warned weeks before Hurricane Katrina hit that his agency's backlogged computer systems could delay supplies and put personnel at risk during an emergency.

The review of the agency's information-sharing system shows it was overwhelmed during the 2004 hurricane season, which saw four hurricanes rip across Florida

The audit was released a day after Brown vehemently defended FEMA during a congressional hearing on the government's slow response to Katrina.

The report concluded FEMA's poor coordination of deployment operations "hindered the delivery of essential disaster response and recovery services."

In a response last month, Brown and a deputy rejected the audit, calling it unacceptable, erroneous and negative.