Which 2005 hurricane caused catastrophic flooding in New Orleans and drew widespread criticism of FEMA's response?

• A. FEMA
• B. NOAA
• C. EPA
• D. NTSB

Answer: (A)

The point being tested is which federal agency is responsible for coordinating disaster response and is most closely tied to the criticism of that response in a major hurricane event. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused catastrophic flooding in New Orleans after levees failed, and the federal response under FEMA faced widespread criticism for delays and coordination problems. That association is why FEMA is the best fit among the options: it’s the agency charged with leading federal disaster relief efforts, and its handling of Katrina became the focal point of the critique.

The other agencies have different roles: NOAA provides weather forecasting and warnings, not the disaster-response leadership; the EPA deals with environmental protection and cleanup; and the NTSB investigates accidents.