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WASHINGTON (AP) — One senator says it's clear that there are parts of the nation's preparedness effort that "need strengthening up."
Democrat Bob Casey of Pennsylvania is reacting to a report by congressional investigators, who found that the government isn't fully prepared to handle a nuclear terrorist attack or a large-scale natural catastrophe. The report by the Government Accountability Office also found that in some cases, the government is years away from ensuring that there would be enough emergency shelters and medical treatment.
It also found that the Federal Emergency Management Agency hasn't always kept track of disaster efforts by agencies -- hampering the nation's preparedness, even after Superstorm Sandy in 2012. According to the report, the Energy Department did not effectively coordinate with state agencies and the private sector during that storm, which was blamed for at least 182 deaths and $65 billion in damage.
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