Acting FEMA Head said he Wasn't Aware U.S. has a Hurricane Season: Sources

Tuesday, June 03, 2025

Staff of the Federal Emergency Management Agency were left baffled on Monday after the head of the U.S. disaster agency said he had not been aware the country has a hurricane season, according to four sources familiar with the situation.

Posted by LampLighter at 08:33 AM | 26 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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Acting head of FEMA said he wasn't aware U.S. has a hurricane season, sources say

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-- CBS Mornings (@cbsmornings.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 8:00 AM

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More from the article ...

... 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.

The U.S. hurricane season officially began on Sunday and lasts through November. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast last week that this year's season is expected to bring as many as 10 hurricanes.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA's parent agency, said 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." ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-06-03 01:10 AM | Reply

OK, let's take a step back here.

The good folk that Pres Trump seems to be placing in important positions within his administration seem to be chosen because of their unfettered adulation of, and loyalty to, Pres Trump.

OK, given that ...

Now we have, what seems to be a comment by Mr Richardson, apparently admitting that he is clueless about the start of the hurricane season?

And if, as he seems to try to push aside that comment, I have to ask ...

Why would a FEMA Director apparently be so glib about disasters (hurricanes!) that affect so many Americans?

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-06-03 01:19 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Interested to see how much weather related fatalities go up as a result, and how much money it saved.

#3 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-06-03 05:14 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

A government of fools topped by a fool for whom non-fools are intimidating.

#4 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-06-03 06:02 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

"Richardson is a former Marine artillery officer and previously served as assistant secretary in DHS's counter-weapons division. He has no prior experience in disaster response but has told the staff that he will continue to oversee his previous DHS role while leading FEMA, as per Reuters"

So he is going to keep his DHS job and lead FEMA.

How can someone be so stupid as to not know there is a hurricane season?

This will not end well.

#5 | Posted by Nixon at 2025-06-03 07:08 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

This is our country running on Trump/MAGA.

Billionaires love it. The rest of us will suffer so they can have their debt-skyrocketing tax cuts.

#6 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-06-03 08:24 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 4

All those idiots in the deep south that voted for this have earned what's coming for them this hurricane season.

#7 | Posted by qcp at 2025-06-03 08:40 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

I suspect there will be many reminders of that comment, especially when this hurricane season brings death and destruction to Florida and the entire Gulf of Mexico coast.

#8 | Posted by Hughmass at 2025-06-03 08:54 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

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.

Richardson, who has no disaster response experience, said during Monday's briefing, a daily all-hands meeting held by phone and videoconference, that he will not be issuing a new disaster plan because he does not want to make changes that might counter the FEMA Review Council, the sources said.

#9 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-06-03 08:55 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Acting FEMA Head said he Wasn't Aware U.S. has a Hurricane Season

#10 | Posted by censored at 2025-06-03 09:28 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

And Richardson has stated that he considers his position as the head of FEMA as being only a part time job as he intends to continue in his role as assistant secretary at DHS' office for countering weapons of mass destruction, which he has implied that he's more qualified for.

OCU

#11 | Posted by OCUser at 2025-06-03 11:23 AM | Reply

All those idiots in the deep south that voted for this have earned what's coming for them this hurricane season.

There hasn't been a single hurricane so far this season. I seen no need to be concerned. That disturbance off the east coast will probably just fizzle out in a few days.

#12 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-06-03 01:06 PM | Reply

M morons
A are
G governing
A America

#13 | Posted by SomebodyElse at 2025-06-03 01:08 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 4

I just received my authorized allotment of 5 pencils and 2 dolls.

I am all ready to face hurricane season.

#14 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-06-03 01:36 PM | Reply | Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 1

Is this ------- also a proponent of nuking hurricanes?

#15 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-06-03 01:38 PM | Reply

Florida meteorologist halts forecast to give dire on-air warning against Trump

www.rawstory.com

The demented------------- is poised to add to his already massive body count.

#16 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-06-03 01:54 PM | Reply

#12 | Posted by REDIAL

So far, 3 days into the hurricane season

#17 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-06-03 03:26 PM | Reply

It can't be hurricane season! I see no hurricanes!

It's all on Trumpy's Weather App.

They also are predicting it will get dark tonight. With 100% chance of scattered light in the morning.

You know their motto. (And you WILL be required to love it.)

"Trumpy's Weather App is always right!"

#18 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-06-03 03:50 PM | Reply

The Trump gang's modus operandi consists of four basic principles:
1. Support Goliath in his noble battle against David
2. Be aggressively ignorant of your responsibilities
3. Say something that's absurd on its face
4. When your stupidity is revealed and mocked, claim you were joking

#19 | Posted by cbob at 2025-06-04 10:07 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"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."

I feel so relieved to know that such knowledgeable people are in positions critical to disaster relief. Oh, zsec, Moem, stay the hell away from my dog!

#20 | Posted by danni at 2025-06-04 11:01 AM | Reply

Clown ass administration.

#21 | Posted by Nixon at 2025-06-04 11:33 AM | Reply

Republicans are utterly corrupt.

Purge can't come quickly enough.

#22 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2025-06-04 01:53 PM | Reply

What about David Richardson merits this position?

If anything he immediately displays fraudulent intent.

#23 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2025-06-04 02:18 PM | Reply

Can it be legally argued that the head of FEMA can't not know what "hurricane season" is?

Make Richardson prove his ignorance in court, no joke.

#24 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2025-06-04 02:26 PM | Reply

Most of the armchair hurricane experts don't even know who John Hope is or Dr. William Gray.

#25 | Posted by THEBULL at 2025-06-04 04:32 PM | Reply

What could possibly go wrong?

#26 | Posted by fresno500 at 2025-06-04 04:54 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1