Federal Disaster Planning Shuts Out Local, State Officials

"State and local officials in charge of responding to disasters say that their input in shaping the National Response Plan was ignored in recent months by senior White House and Department of Homeland Security officials, despite calls by congressional investigators for a shared overhaul of disaster planning in the United States."

"The national plan is supposed to guide how federal, state and local governments, along with private and nonprofit groups, work together during emergencies. Critics contend that a unilateral approach by Washington produced an ill-advised response plan at the end of 2004 -- an unwieldy, 427-page document that emphasized stopping terrorism at the expense of safeguarding against natural disasters."

"The new draft, which was released publicly only after it was leaked to Congressional Quarterly, states that it is a simplified but 'essential playbook' that describes various responsibilities of government executives, private-sector business and nongovernmental leaders and operators. Acknowledging that its directives exceed current capabilities, however, the framework commits the federal government to developing later actual strategic and operational plans."

"Bush officials add that state, local and private-sector partners will get their say during a 30-day review when the plan is formally released later this year."