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| Not exactly inspiring confidence here, acting FEMA director reportedly said that he did not know the United States has a hurricane season. |
It is another example of how the Trump administration thinks that in general, the best people to lead the U.S. government are white, boorish airheads.
According to an incredible report in Reuters:
"The remark was made during a briefing by David Richardson, who has led FEMA since early May. It was not clear to staff whether he meant it literally, as a joke, or in some other context."
As pretty much everybody except Richardson knows, especially those living along the Gulf Coast, Florida and much of the East Coast, hurricane season in the United States runs from June 1 through November 30, with the peak of the season hitting in August and September.
The Department of Homeland Security, headed by Kristi ("ICE Barbie") Noem, which oversees FEMA, did some furious backpedaling, which only seemed to make matters worse.
Reuters reports that a Homeland Security spokesperson said FEMA is indeed prepared for hurricane season. "FEMA is shifted from bloated DC-centric dead weight to a a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for its citizens."
The translation of that statement is, FEMA officials will make photo ops and do practically nothing else in disaster zones while local and state official try, and fail, to gather enough local resources to handle the crisis. You're on your own, disaster victims!
Yes, I'm exaggerating, but not by much, I don't think.
FEMA staffers, at least the ones who are left after a Trump administration staff purge left them shorthanded, were reportedly stunned by the "I've never heard of hurricane season" remark by Richardson.
Many fear the cutbacks will make FEMA unprepared for the expected busy hurricane season, and this would just make it worse,
Not surprisingly, sarcasm reigned after Richardson's apparent hurricane ignorance.
Turns out Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer was unaware of something, too, though the Senator does seem to have a working knowledge of hurricane season. Schumer said of Richardson that he is "unaware of why he hasn't been fired yet."
Maybe Richardson thought that hurricanes are not those very big bad, dangerous tropical storms but instead a Hurricane, that fruity rum drink mentioned in the famous Alan Jackson/Jimmy Buffett collaboration "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere."
Sure, those hurricanes are always in season, as far as I'm concerned. Especially after a long day of listening to Trump administration news.
RICHARDSON BOORISH AS A BOSS
Earlier this spring, Richardson made quite an impression on his FEMA staff at their first all hands meeting. "Don't get in my way," he barked.
"Obfuscation, delay, undermining," Richardson complained about at least some of his staff. "If you're one of those 20% of the people and you think those tactics and techniques are going to help you, they will not, because I will run right over you. I will achieve the president's intent."
Richardson really does like the autocratic tone endemic in the rest of the Trump administration. "I, and I alone in FEMA, speak for FEMA," he said, according to CBS, warning staffers not to leak any of their own opinions to the public.
Richardson is a former U.S Marine Corps ground combat officer and commander, which explains a lot What works well in the military isn't necessarily appropriate for the civilian work space. I mean, I'd quit my job if it resembled a Marine boot camp.
Yes, the reasonable expectation at any job is for staff to work hard and well. But what is Richardson going to do. Have FEMA staff march out in formation into a hurricane storm surge when he finally disbands the agency?
CBS reports, tellingly, that Richardson said during the earlier meeting with staff, "I have never read a book on leadership." Great. Which probably also explains his obliviousness to hurricane season.
Regarding other types of disasters, I hope Richardson isn't like the lunatic in Pennsylvania a few years back who claimed an increase in tornadoes in his state was because the Pennsylvania DOT was building more traffic circles. (The cars going around in circles apparently spin the air into these "tornaders" as the dude explained on a radio show).
In any event, Richardson also told the spring staff meeting that "I'm fine operating in chaos and a very ambiguous environment." That makes him perfect for the Trump administration anyway and for managing those mysterious hurricanes later this summer and fall.
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