US Not Prepared for Nuclear Attack or Disaster

The United States is not fully prepared for a nuclear terrorist attack, or a large-scale natural disaster.

A congressional audit conducted by the Government Accountability Office found the government lacks effective coordination, and in some cases is years away from ensuring adequate emergency shelter and medical treatment.

The report, obtained by the Associated Press before its release, says it would take one to five years to determine whether people were exposed to unsafe levels of radiation, and five to 10 years to plan for a full medical response.

It also found that the Federal Emergency Management Agency didn't always keep track of disaster efforts by agencies, hampering the nation's preparedness even after Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

The investigation relied in part on internal documents from the Homeland Security Department, which oversees FEMA.

According to the report, 39 of 102 corrective actions identified by federal agencies after Superstorm Sandy still need to be done. Among them:

- Improving emergency coordination with states.

- Boosting training in the use of electronic medical records and other care.

- Ensuring adequate transportation of injured victims.

The report is one of several reports that the office plans in the coming months on the level of disaster readiness.