Washington DC - Staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency were reportedly left shocked by acting chief David Richardson's stunning display of ignorance.
FEMA David Richardson reportedly admitted that he didn't know the US had a hurricane season, according to staff present during a meeting. © AFP/Kayla Barkowski/Getty Images
Several sources from within FEMA told that Richardson admitted during a meeting on Monday that he was not aware that the country has a hurricane season.
The US goes through a prolonged hurricane season lasting from June through to November every year, during which various measures are put in place by FEMA and other agencies to prepare for a major disaster.
One of FEMA's core responsibilities is to prepare for and respond to phenomena like, which both struck during hurricane season.
In 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is expecting at least six to 10 hurricanes to hit the US, with varying degrees of severity.
"This outlook is a call to action," NOAA National Weather Service director Ken Graham . "Be prepared. Take proactive steps now to make a plan and gather supplies to ensure you're ready before a storm threatens."
Speaking to Reuters, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, said that Richardson's comment was a joke.
"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," the agency's spokesperson told Reuters.
Richardson, a former Marine who was appointed after President Donald Trump fired his predecessor for openly criticizing plans to dismantle FEMA, by saying: "Don't get in my way."
