Michael Brown
Michael Brown
Former administrator of FEMA who resigned from his position after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Many americans blamed him for the slow response to help those in New Orleans in the aftermath of the deadly hurricane.
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth8 November 1954
CityGuymon, OK
absolute break clash cultural cycle disaster doomed inherent preparing recognize science time
There was a cultural clash that didn't recognize the absolute inherent science of preparing for a disaster. Any time you break that cycle ... you're doomed to failure.
assistance denial focus hope hurricane immediate individual provide recognize relief victims
We recognize your immediate focus is to provide relief for the hurricane victims in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, but hope you will reconsider your denial of individual assistance for our communities.
alabama breath conditions country deep doubt homes living needs people quite recognize reporter room
I think everyone in the country needs to take a big, collective, deep breath and recognize that there are a lot of people in this state, in Mississippi and Alabama who are living under conditions that, quite frankly, I doubt any reporter in this room is living under -- no food, no water, it's hot, it's sticky, their homes have been destroyed, they don't know where they're going to go next.
patient people recognize work
I need the American people to recognize how catastrophic this is, to be patient and to work with us.
asking expect good questions recognize serious situation
He's very engaged, and he's asking a lot of really good questions I would expect him to ask. I say that only because I want everyone to recognize ... how serious the situation remains.
best knew prepared quickly stretched
We were prepared but overwhelmed is the best way I can put it. We knew what to do. We knew how to do it. But because we're stretched thin, because we still had these logistical problems, it quickly overwhelmed us.
above clouds coming exciting
What is tremendously exciting is we can see it from Earth; we see these big clouds coming from above these methane vents or methane volcanoes.
darn good job
I've overseen over 150 presidentially declared disasters. I know what I'm doing, and I think I do a pretty darn good job of it,
governor mayor personally persuade pull regret sit strongly unable work
I very strongly personally regret that I was unable to persuade Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin to sit down, get over their differences and work together. I just couldn't pull that off.
good management matter weaknesses
These demonstrate weaknesses in management and must be addressed as a matter of good practice.
emergency largest recovery resources response single
the single largest mobilization of emergency response and recovery resources in history.
garbage picked picking
I see them picking up the trees, but it's the garbage we need to get picked up now.
serve totally
I serve totally at the will of the president.
care people sure understand
I understand their frustration and I understand these people are suffering, we are doing everything we can to make sure we take care of them.