FEMA director Brown resigns

[Capulet]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/12/fema.actingdirector/

Career firefighter takes over FEMA

Monday, September 12, 2005; Posted: 10:15 p.m. EDT (02:15 GMT)

David Paulison, who recommended in 2003 that Americans stock up on plastic sheeting and duct tape to be prepared for a terrorist attack, was named Monday as acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Michael Brown resigned as FEMA director earlier in the day, saying his presence had become a distraction from the agency's relief efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. (Full story)

"Chief Paulison has over 30 years of experience in emergency management, working his way up the ranks from firefighter to chief of the Miami-Dade County fire and rescue department," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a news release.

"I appreciate his willingness to take on the vital task of leading FEMA during this challenging time."

President Bush called Paulison on Monday evening and thanked him for taking the job.

Paulison joined FEMA in 2001 as head of the U.S. Fire Administration in Emmitsburg, Maryland, which supports state and local fire service programs.

In 2003, he took on additional duties as director of FEMA's Preparedness Division, according to his biography posted on the agency's Web site.

It was in that role that Paulison recommended Americans stock up on plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal windows and doors in case of a biological, chemical or radiological attack.

In February of that year, after the government raised the terror alert level from yellow to orange, Paulison described a list of useful items for Americans to have in case of a biological, chemical or radiological attack.

In his advisory, Paulison recommended that households have on hand three days worth of water and food; an emergency supply kit for both home and automobile; radios with extra batteries; and plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal windows and doors.

Sales of duct tape and plastic sheeting soared for the next few days while many critics in the media blasted the suggestion.

As part of his job, Paulison also was responsible for training federal, state and local emergency managers, and conducting exercises.

Before joining FEMA, Paulison was chief of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department in Florida, overseeing its 1,900 personnel with a $200 million operating budget and a $70 million equipment budget.

A paramedic, he also supervised the county's emergency management office from 1995 until 2001. He was selected fire chief of the year by Florida in 1993.

The Miami native began his career as a rescue firefighter in 1971 and rose through the ranks before becoming chief in 1992.

His emergency management experience includes Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and the crash of ValuJet Flight 592 in the Everglades in 1996.

Paulison is a past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. He has a bachelor of arts from Florida Atlantic University.

An improvement?

Does it even matter now?

 

[The Yankee]

Of course it matters now. Just because things are somewhat finally getting on track down there doesn't mean that'll be the end of things forever.

 

[Ramius75]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/12/fema.actingdirector/



An improvement?

Does it even matter now?

seems like the correct man for the job.

anyway he will have a toughtime ahead trying to revamp the whole FEMA into something efficient and have to touch up alot of potential disasters risk.

also be prepared for more hurricane and godfobidden terrorist attacks...

 

[Speedo]

David Paulison, who recommended in 2003 that Americans stock up on plastic sheeting and duct tape to be prepared for a terrorist attack, was named Monday as acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Glad to know we're in good hands. If a hurricance strikes here, I expect the government to supply me with a box of plastic sheeting and a roll of duct tape within 24 hrs. It's good to see the man knows what is critical to survival.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

I hear Brown is going to take the helm at the United Parcel Service: What can Brown do for you?

Im surprised Brown was the first one to go. Looks like Bush is going to keep his Chertoff for the time being (he's been working out).

 

[IglooDame]

I may have just figured something out. In 1992, in the wake of Andrew in South Florida, Dade County emergency director Kathleen Hale famously summed up the frustration felt throughout the stricken areas when she cried, "Where the hell is the cavalry?"

(link here: http://www.breitbart.com/news/na/D8CFJMDO1.html )

Perhaps choosing someone eminently well qualified to judge cavalry horse quality was a deliberate response to Ms. Hale?

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Or maybe subconscious But Im glad we're done horsing around, and someone with disaster experience is in the saddle. Thats the mane thing.

 

[Rambuchan]

Neigh. I disagree. When the going's good, everyone eats greedily out of the proverbial media horse bag. But when its tough underhoof, as after a Hurricane, the public really like to put the cart before the horse and rein in any bad politicians when the opportunity arises. They've been chomping on the bit to break Bush's gallop for a while. Brown's resignation is simply a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. Now they need to focus on the front runner in this pack of wild ones.

(you really can take it too far sometimes eh?)

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Ram you really bolted out of the starting gate that time. Scuze me, gotta go, have to call a gal up.

 

[Rambuchan]

I have always been found of horse play yes. BTW Don't be calling that gal up if she isn't hot to trot (canter at least).

 

[Speedo]

I hear Brown is going to take the helm at the United Parcel Service: What can Brown do for you?

He'd get along well with UPS management.

 

[IglooDame]

You two can make hay of this all you like but everybody knows that you can lead a horse to water. Leading people away from water is a horse of a different color, apparently, than Brown.