Staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were left baffled on Monday after the new head of the disaster agency said he was unaware that the country has a hurricane season, Reuters reports, citing four people familiar with the call.
David Richardson, who has led FEMA since early May, made the comment during an all-hands meeting. It was not clear to staff whether he meant it as a joke.
Richardson is a former Marine artillery officer who previously served as Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assistant secretary for countering weapons of mass destruction. He has no background in disaster response.
Richardson was appointed as the new chief of the disaster relief agency last month after his predecessor, Cameron Hamilton, was abruptly fired. Richardson took over the role during a chaotic time for the agency which has seen staffing cuts due to Elon Musk-led DOGE, and a delay in updated disaster plans ahead of what is expected to be an active hurricane season.
The hurricane season officially began on Sunday and lasts through November. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted up to 10 hurricanes this year. Richardson’s remark came one day into the new hurricane season.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, told Reuters that the comment was a joke and that FEMA is prepared for hurricane season.
The spokesperson said under Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Richardson “FEMA is shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens.”
Democrats do not see Richardson’s comment as a laughing matter.
