Michael D. Brown (Fema Honcho LA)

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Michael D. Brown

Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response

Michael D. Brown was nominated by President George W. Bush as the first Under Secretary of Emergency Preparedness and Response in the newly created Department of Homeland Security in January 2003. As the head of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Under Secretary Brown leads federal disaster response and recovery operations and coordinates disaster activities with more than two dozen federal agencies and departments and the American Red Cross. He also oversees the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration, and initiates proactive mitigation activities.

Additionally, Under Secretary Brown helps the Secretary of Homeland Security ensure the effectiveness of emergency responders, and directs the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Integration Center, the National Disaster Medical System and the Nuclear Incident Response Team.

Under Secretary Brown has led Homeland Security’s response to more than 164 presidentially declared disasters and emergencies, including the 2003 Columbia Shuttle disaster and the California wildfires in 2003. In 2004, Mr. Brown led FEMA’s thousands of dedicated disaster workers during the most active hurricane season in over 100 years, as FEMA delivered aid more quickly and more efficiently than ever before.

Previously, Mr. Brown served as FEMA's Deputy Director and the agency's General Counsel. Shortly after the September 11th terrorist attacks, Mr. Brown served on the President's Consequence Management Principal's Committee, which acted as the White House's policy coordination group for the federal domestic response to the attacks. Later, the President asked him to head the Consequence Management Working Group to identify and resolve key issues regarding the federal response plan. In August 2002, President Bush appointed him to the Transition Planning Office for the new Department of Homeland Security, serving as the transition leader for the EP&R Division.

Prior to joining FEMA, Mr. Brown practiced law in Colorado and Oklahoma, where he served as a bar examiner on ethics and professional responsibility for the Oklahoma Supreme Court and as a hearing examiner for the Colorado Supreme Court. He had been appointed as a special prosecutor in police disciplinary matters. While attending law school he was appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee of the Oklahoma Legislature as the Finance Committee Staff Director, where he oversaw state fiscal issues. His background in state and local government also includes serving as an assistant city manager with emergency services oversight and as a city councilman.

Mr. Brown was also an adjunct professor of law for the Oklahoma City University.

A native of Oklahoma, Mr. Brown holds a bachelor's degree in Public Administration/Political Science from Central State University, Oklahoma. He received his J.D. from Oklahoma City University’s School of Law.

» Speeches by Under Secretary Michael D. Brown

Last Updated: Wednesday, 22-Jun-2005 11:25:20 EDT

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[Coldwater Creek]

Hear! Hear!

[Coldwater Creek]

Even if the MSM figures this out, they would never admit it.

[Coldwater Creek]

There is something that people are not taking into consideration. You can prepare all day long for a disaster, then when it comes, it is never just like you trained for. There are some things that just cannot be predicted or planned for in advance, including how some local officials will respond.

[Coldwater Creek]

Actually Jeb would have been in the water pulling the poor people out.

[Jim Noble]

A lawyer.

Excellent.

[Jim Noble]

We are prepared to respond to terrorist attacks.

If Newark, NJ had to be evacuated tomorrow is FEMA prepared to relocate 270 000 people out of NJ from a standing start with no warning?

[Lessismore]

He's not a weather babe.

No, he's another goddamned government lawyer.

[nascaryankee]

It isn't the federal government's job to relocate people. That would be up to the local and state to coordinate all that, with possible resources provided by the feds......

[VictoryGal]

Agreed that Nagin/Blaco are boobs but the truth is that for 9/11 the city was standing and had power, food, and intact transportation. Hundreds of thousands were not homeless. The state as a whole was not torn up and wounded. Rudy and George P. did a fantastic job but let's face it they had nowhere near the problem the NO/LA folks have.

When a city is DESTROYED and the state is that deeply affected the feds oughtta be there. Sorry, but logistically it's the only thing that makes sense. You can't honestly expect the state to handle all that stuff themselves when they've been dealt a severe body blow like that-- that's why FEMA is there. I'm all for a smaller govt. but this is the stuff governments are supposed to do along with fire, police and defense.

[cassie_dc]

Oh, yes, he's a lawyer all right. I find it interesting that his previous job in the horse industry has been kept under wraps for so long. He had no experience in the horse industry whatsoever, but managed to get on board with the International Arabian Horse Association and cause a great deal of controversy during his tenure. I was an IAHA member and delegate during those years, and I well remember how our organization nearly came apart at the seams over the role of the "Judges and Stewards Commissioner".


http://www.denverpost.com/katrina/ci_2999761

P.S. From an infrequent poster but constant lurker who has read every Katrina thread -- THANKS NN for a fantastic job!!

[mudbug65]

I agree 911 was not a vast geographic catastrophe but more 3000 people died and it did stop traffic, power, public transportation, air transportation, communications (cell and Lan (for the area)). It brought New York to its knees for 24+hrs. And then the residual affects, police shut down tunnels and bridges because some homeless guy left a garbage bag. The state has to take the lead, even if it is just to make sure FEMA is ready. It starts with the local, then state then fed. Please go to the FEMA web site and read Recovery 98. It was a mock exercise using a cat 5 up the eastern coast affecting a large area.
A couple of years ago, a professor at LSU did a computer mock up of what would occur if a slow moving cat 3 hurricane hit New Orleans. Civil engineers laughed at him when he said the leaves would go.
Even during Pres Clinton's admin, studies on the leaves had been done and the issue ignored (He even mentioned this during the press conference announcing relief efforts with Bush41).
Folks, I was born and raised in the great state of LA and MS. I have relatives and friends that have been relocated with others in MS. My daughter is in the MS national Guard and was activated Sunday evening before the hurricane hit. My heart brakes and I have shed tears. I know the gulf coast and NO will be rebuilt, but I am afraid we will for ever be changed by these events. I hope everyone that posted also donated to their local relief fund. take care...

[RobbyS]

Only because he looks like a fool on TV. I know now why he was never elected to higher office. He did well enough when he wass dealing with a competent leader like Jeb Bush. Obviously he could not deal with someone like Blanco. A strong leader would have walked all over her and then apologized.