Lousiana officials seek FEMA supplies after giveaway

(CNN) - Louisiana officials Thursday asked that hurricane supplies given away as government surplus by the Federal Emergency Management Agency be given back to the state to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu demanded answers from FEMA about why it gave away $85 million in supplies meant for hurricane Katrina victims. And the Louisiana Recovery Authority announced that it was asking the federal government to return goods "that were intended to help disaster victims in Louisiana but were marked as surplus and remain unused."

"Many of these items are believed to be household goods that could help residents moving out of FEMA trailers re-establish their homes," the agency said.

The demands were in response to a CNN investigation that found FEMA gave away extensive stocks of items such as cots, cleansers, first-aid kits, coffee makers, camp stoves and other items that had been purchased as "starter kits" for people living in trailers after the 2005 hurricane.

"While I understand the stated need to save taxpayer money being spent storing these materials, I am concerned that there are still ongoing needs for these type of goods in my state," Landrieu wrote Chertoff, whose department includes FEMA. She asked for Chertoff's assistance "in reviewing this situation and redistributing these goods."