Acknowledging problems in federal response to Hurricane Katrina, Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says changes are planned in areas like debris removal, logistics and communications. Chertoff on Feb. 13 said DHS and its Federal Emergency Management Agency are setting up "contract and response architectures with debris removal companies, cutting out middlemen" and making sure states get fast, cost-effective help from local companies. He says FEMA still would use the Corps of Engineers in debris removal, especially in the days right after a disaster. But Chertoff adds that "we may open additional options" to ensure localities "are not locked into the Army Corps" if more efficient alternatives exist.