12.24.2008

Screwing up to the end


Add one more bit of anxiety to the lives of Louisianians who fled to Texas to escape Hurricane Katrina: the threat of identity theft, an unexpected byproduct of handing over personal information to FEMA.



FEMA has confirmed that an "unauthorized breach of private information" resulted in the information release of 16,857 names, Social Security and phone numbers, and other private details of people who had applied for benefits. The information was flashed on a pair of privately run Web sites, but for how long was unclear.

[From FEMA data on Katrina evacuees leaked - Breaking News from New Orleans - Times-Picayune - NOLA.com ]


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