Summary
During a recent briefing, acting FEMA head David Richardson expressed surprise about the start of the hurricane season, which left staff confused and disheartened, especially amidst ongoing leadership turmoil and morale issues within the agency. The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 and is predicted by NOAA to be above average, with 13 to 19 named storms expected, including 3 to 5 major hurricanes. A DHS spokesperson later indicated that Richardson’s comment was likely meant as a joke, reinforcing FEMA’s commitment to disaster response this season.
