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Brown Describes His Disaster Experience

By Jeralyn, Section Huricanes Katrina and Rita
Posted on Tue Sep 06, 2005 at 03:58:01 PM EST
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Yesterday on CNN, there was a press conference with Michael Chertoff, Gen. Honore and embattled FEMA director Mike Brown. This exchange took place:

PHILLIPS: ....we got to take you straight to a live news conference with the head of the Department of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff. Let's listen in.

MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECY.: ....That's my update. We'll take a few questions. If you've got questions for me or for the general or for Mike Brown, please just tell us who you want to direct your questions to.

....QUESTION: There's been a lot of questions about Mr. Brown's background. Can you tell us a little bit about any disaster experience you've had or what qualifications you have to be (INAUDIBLE)

MICHAEL BROWN, FEMA DIRECTOR: Sure. Started out as general counsel at FEMA, ran operations at headquarters through 9/11, and since then, 164 presidential disaster declarations, including the California wildfires, the historic outbreak of tornadoes in the Midwest a couple of years ago and last year's historic four hurricanes that struck Florida. So yes, I've been through a few disasters in my life.

[Source, Lexis.com, CNN, 9/5/05 1pm]

Update: Brown was the subject of much discussion at today's White House press briefing with Scott McClellan. Things didn't go too well for McClellan.

< Santorum Calls for Fines on NOLA Residents Who Stayed Behind | Sen. Ken Salazar Calls for Resignation of Mike Brown >

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    • Brown Describes His Disaster Experience | 9 comments (9 topical)
    Re: Brown Describes His Disaster Experience (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:21 PM EST
    Please, the only disaster Michael Brown has seen is bad calls at horse judging competitions, the incompetent moron.

    Re: Brown Describes His Disaster Experience (none / 0) (#2)
    by scarshapedstar on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:21 PM EST
    Come to think of it, I'm surprised Brown even got a job in the George W. "Cowboy who's afraid of horses" Bush Administration.

    Re: Brown Describes His Disaster Experience (none / 0) (#3)
    by Quaker in a Basement on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:21 PM EST
    Salt Lake Tribune:
    As New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin pleaded on national television for firefighters - his own are exhausted after working around the clock for a week - a battalion of highly trained men and women sat idle Sunday in a muggy Sheraton Hotel conference room in Atlanta. Many of the firefighters, assembled from Utah and throughout the United States by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, thought they were going to be deployed as emergency workers. Instead, they have learned they are going to be community-relations officers for FEMA, shuffled throughout the Gulf Coast region to disseminate fliers and a phone number: 1-800-621-FEMA.


    Re: Brown Describes His Disaster Experience (none / 0) (#4)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:21 PM EST
    How much clearer can the message be. Most likely the new
    community-relations officers for FEMA
    will also be used gather information on those who stayed but could have left, those who looted or found non edible goods, and all those others who perpetrated refufgee crimes against America. The new streamlined Homeland Security can then deliver the info promptly to the FBI et.al.

    Re: Brown Describes His Disaster Experience (none / 0) (#5)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:21 PM EST
    "FEMA has warned (The fireman) not to talk to reporters." The whole Salt Lake Tribune article is well worth a read. KO punchline. great catch QIB

    Re: Brown Describes His Disaster Experience (none / 0) (#6)
    by Paralegal on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:22 PM EST
    Did anyone watch the video? What a tough crowd. CJ Craig would't have fared well given the situation. I hope this video is retrieved once the admin decides to play the blame game that Scott McClellan sidestepped. The wheels are coming off the wagon, they are going to pin the blame on someone & soon. I bet it's the victims..

    Re: Brown Describes His Disaster Experience (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:22 PM EST
    I've taken a few of the disaster-preparedness classes that FEMA offers online. Got some nice certificates out of them, too. That much, I do have on Michael Brown. Seriously, though, I believe FEMA should not only be separated from Homeland Security, it should be made a Cabinet-level department, renamed the Department of Emergency Management. I'm afraid my other plans for FEMA are a bit too extensive to list, though I'll share via email with anyone who asks.

    Re: Brown Describes His Disaster Experience (none / 0) (#8)
    by Paralegal on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:22 PM EST
    I'm afraid my other plans for FEMA are a bit too extensive to list, though I'll share via email with anyone who asks.
    Claxton : send them to Mike Brown.

    Re: Brown Describes His Disaster Experience (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:28 PM EST
    There was also that DISASTROUS weekend in Nogales....

    Brown Describes His Disaster Experience | 9 comments (9 topical)