FEMA Chief Reportedly Told Staff He Was Unaware There’s a Hurricane Season

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency left staffers “baffled” during a meeting on Monday when he said he was unaware the U.S. has a hurricane season, according to Reuters.

Hurricane season in the U.S. begins on June 1 and continues through November.

Citing four sources familiar with the all-hands staff meeting, Reuters reported that it was unclear whether Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson was joking.

“Richardson’s comment purporting ignorance about hurricane season spread among agency staff, spurring confusion and reigniting concern about his lack of familiarity with FEMA’s operations, said three sources,” Reuters stated.

The outlet went on to note that Richardson, who does not have disaster response experience, told agency employees that FEMA will not release a new disaster plan, lest it contradict the FEMA Review Council, which President Donald Trump created to evaluate the agency. Reuters said officials from FEMA and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, did not respond to requests for comment.

Prior to leading FEMA, Richardson was the DHS assistant secretary for countering weapons of mass destruction.

Trump has suggested he may try to eliminate FEMA and leave disaster response up to the states.

“You know, I had FEMA working really well,” Trump told Fox News two days after assuming office for his second term. “We had hurricanes in Florida, we had Alabama, tornadoes. But unless you have certain types of leadership, it’s really– it gets in the way. And FEMA is gonna be a whole big discussion very shortly because I’d rather see the states take care of their own problems.”