Strong criticism of the response to hurricane Katrina is leading to suggestions by some lawmakers that the primary U.S. government agency responsible for handling emergencies should be separated from the large Department of Homeland Security created after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. When the huge Department of Homeland Security was created in the wake of the unprecedented 2001 terrorist attacks, what had been the autonomous Federal Emergency Management Agency was included in the massive reorganization. FEMA was not without its problems, but the hope was that America's ability to respond to emergencies would be improved. In addition, most of...