Disaster plan set for release today

HOUSTON (KTRK) (KTRK) -- Nearly two and a half years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf coast, and caused an uproar over the government's response to people trapped in New Orleans.

Today the Bush administration is set to unveil a new disaster plan. According to the Washington Post, which obtained a copy of the new plan, the Bush administration is streamlining the chain of command that failed after Hurricane Katrina.

The new plan is basically giving power back to FEMA to coordinate federal disaster operations. FEMA's power was diminished under the administration's previous plan, which was used just once. It was after Katrina.

The Secretary of Homeland Security appointed his own officer to oversee the disaster response.

Under the new plan, which is only 90 pages long, the head of FEMA will appoint the top coordinating officer in the event of a disaster. Those familiar with the new plan say this will help clarify responsibility in the hopes of ending the confusion that caused critical delays in the days following Katrina.

The new plan is said to be a simpler guide to how federal, state and local governments, along with private and nonprofit groups, respond to disasters.

A press conference is set for this afternoon at 2pm to announce the new framework.

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local, eric james

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