Want to file a damage claim with FEMA? Don’t plan on using a Mac to do it.

According to myriad reports from Katrina victims, the FEMA online claim service only supports Internet Explorer 6 for Windows, essentially forcing Mac users out into the void. Yes, there are ways around it – namely changing your browsers “user-agent” ID to IE6, something that Opera 8 and Safari (with some help from TinkerTool) can pull off.

But most users will be forced into either finding a Windows PC (apparently many rescue workers have had to pay for Windows licenses out-of-pocket due to FEMA’s malfeasance), or requesting the claim-by-mail form. Of course, this latter method will send the form to a USPS mailing address – and the USPS isn’t yet delivering mail to many hurricane-ravaged areas.

Am I alone in believing that homeland security is even worse than it was in 2001?