Well before Katrina, a team of reporters from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel documented and reported problems with FEMA, alerting readers to the federal government's unreadiness for the "Big One."

In its 15-month investigation of FEMA, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel revealed that the agency had awarded more than $530 million to applicants across the U.S. who had little or no hardship following the 2004 hurricane season and detailed how tax money bought furniture and appliances for citizens in areas untouched by hurricanes, fires, floods or tornados. The paper also revealed that FEMA inspectors received little training, and that some of the inspectors hired by FEMA had criminal records.