We paid $500K for a disaster relief plan?

Here's something you haven't heard yet in the mainstream media: in 2004, the Dept. of Homeland Security and FEMA paid over a half million to Innovative Emergency Management (IEM) to develop a 'catastrophic hurricane disaster plan' for the New Orleans area.

Props to J. Tocci for the tipoff. Lenin's Tomb appears to have discovered this. More links here and here (pdf) and here (scroll down).

Let's hear it for the greater effectiveness of privatization! Also, one more round of applause for the MSM for dropping yet another softball.