WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama says residents of hurricane-prone communities need to take responsibility for their own safety and they need to start planning now.

Hurricane season officially begins Monday.
 
Emerging from a disaster-preparedness briefing Friday, the president said the government is determined to be ready when the next large storm hits the coast of the United States.

Obama said individuals should have their own plans – a supply of non-perishable food, water, first aid kits and radios.
 
The president said state governments have the primary responsibility for preparing and responding to disasters. He said all the resources of the federal government are there to back them up.
 
Obama was critical of the Bush administration’s late response and poor preparation for Hurricane Katrina in 2005.