BATON ROUGE -- Gov. Kathleen Blanco has asked for more time to deliver documents to congressional committees about her office's role in Hurricane Katrina preparations and emergency response to the storm.

The delay would mean it could be December before internal documents reflecting what was going on behind the scenes are made public.

"They have asked for the kitchen sink, which is OK," said Blanco executive counsel Terry Ryder. "But given the fact that we are dealing with Katrina and Rita right now, we have asked for 90 days more."

Blanco got a request for information on Sept. 30 from a U.S. House committee that wanted the information within two weeks. The House committee is interested in internal communications received, prepared, or sent by Blanco and her Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and the Office of the Adjutant General for three separate time periods.

Another request came Oct. 7 from a U.S. Senate homeland security committee, asking Blanco to provide the documents no later than Nov. 3.

The Senate panel's request is more detailed, seeking documents such as charts outlining who held key positions in state government in preparation for and responding to the disaster, what legal authority the governor had in disaster preparation and response, documents from the last five years spelling out Louisiana's hurricane and flood risks, and those relating to the hurricane planning exercise known as "Hurricane Pam."

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)