Acting FEMA chief told staff he didn’t know about U.S. hurricane season

New FEMA Acting Head’s Lack of Emergency Management Experience Raises Concerns

The recent appointment of David Richardson at FEMA has sparked worries among some FEMA employees due to his limited experience in emergency management. Richardson, who joined FEMA in May, previously served in the Marines and worked in the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. Concerns were raised by some employees following reports that Richardson allegedly claimed not to know about the U.S. hurricane season during a meeting.

The comment, reportedly made a day after the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, has caused further unease among FEMA workers. While the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, stated that Richardson’s remark was meant as a joke, the timing and context have raised doubts. With the hurricane season considered a critical period for FEMA and the agency having undergone recent staffing reductions, employees are concerned about the agency’s readiness to respond to disasters.

During a meeting, Richardson also suggested that FEMA should approach this year’s hurricane season similarly to how it handled the previous year’s challenges. However, given the reduction in staff numbers, employees are wary of the agency’s ability to effectively manage disaster responses. Since the Trump administration took office, FEMA has experienced a significant decrease in its full-time staff, including coordinating officers responsible for disaster responses.

Richardson took over as acting administrator after his predecessor, Cameron Hamilton, was ousted. Hamilton’s defense of FEMA’s importance to communities clashed with President Trump’s views on potentially eliminating the agency. Richardson’s assertive stance in his new role has also raised eyebrows among FEMA employees, with his warning that he would not tolerate any obstruction to his agenda.

The concerns about Richardson’s lack of emergency management experience and the challenges facing FEMA during the hurricane season come at a time when the agency is already under pressure to reform and operate more efficiently.