Report: US cities unprepared for catastrophes

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
US cities and states remain unprepared for catastrophes, a new Homeland Security Department analysis concluded, despite threats of terrorism, hurricanes and pandemic flu. Most of the 131 emergency response plans reviewed by the department still fail to designate a clear chain of command during disasters, the analysis found. It also described weaknesses in planning for evacuations as "an area of profound concern." "The majority of the nation's current emergency operations plans and planning processes cannot be characterized as fully adequate, feasible, or acceptable to manage catastrophic events," concluded the review, obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.