Bush picks Paulison as acting FEMA head

Reuters.com ^ | 09/12/2005 | Reuters Alert Net

[indcons]

WASHINGTON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Monday named David Paulison, a top official in the Homeland Security Department, to replace Michael Brown on an acting basis as head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Bush moved quickly to put Paulison in charge of FEMA after Brown resigned the position under fire for the slow federal response to Hurricane Katrina that killed hundreds and displace 1 million people.

[indcons]

Here is an old bio on him:

"R. David Paulison serves as director of the Preparedness Division of the Emergency Preparedness & Response Directorate/FEMA, in thenewly created Department of Homeland Security in 2003. In that position, Paulison reports directly to Homeland Security deputy secretary James Loy who, in turn, reports to Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge. Paulison continues to serve as the administrator for the U.S. Fire Administration, a position to which he was appointed in December 2001.

As director of the Preparedness Division, Mr. Paulison administers a broad range of programs designed to reduce injuries and death due to disasters, strengthen states and communities and prevent or reduce damage to public and personal property. He is also responsible for enhancing state and local emergency preparedness, training federal, state, and local emergency managers, and conducting a nationwide program of exercises. As head of the U.S. Fire Administration, Mr. Paulison also supports state and local fire service programs and oversees programs to reduce life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies in partnership with fire protection and emergency service communities. Before joining FEMA, Mr. Paulison, who has 30 years of fire rescue services experience, was chief of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department. In that position, he oversaw 1,900 personnel with a $200 million operating budget and a $70 million capital budget. He also oversaw the county’s emergency management office."

[Tulsa Ramjet]

"George W. Bush on Monday named David Paulison"

That old comedian??? I thought he was dead. I didn't know he became a fire eater. :)

[navysealdad]

It was Brown's fault that Hurricane Katrina killed hundreds and displace 1 million people.And also Bush's fault. Why didn't they have FEMA move the hurricane towards Mexico!!!(..)

[indcons]

And let us not forget that Nagin, Blanco, and the Landrieus acted in a stellar fashion during this tragedy. /sacasm

[Ramius]

I think Brown got a bum rap on the Katrina response. I would not like to think he lost his job over that. I wonder if it wasn't more about the issues with his resume, though I haven't gotten clear on whether those were serious issues or not.

Be that as it may... he'd become a lightning rod and it was getting in the way of getting things done. Unfair, but that's the way it was.

[Mike Darancette]

He is also responsible for enhancing state and local emergency preparedness, training federal, state, and local emergency managers,

This guy would KNOW what should have happened and what the responsibilities of the locals were. I wonder if he was on the scene in LA.

Here's hoping for a quick and in thorough confirmation hearing.

[rockprof]

And let us not forget that Nagin, Blanco, and the Landrieus acted in a stellar fashion during this tragedy.

Only the voters of LA can fire those clowns.

[Servant of the 9]

Official Bio

R. David Paulison was appointed director of the Preparedness Division of the Emergency Preparedness & Response Directorate/FEMA, in the newly created Department of Homeland Security in 2003. He will continue to serve as the administrator for the U.S. Fire Administration, a position to which he was appointed in December 2001. As director of the Preparedness Division, Mr. Paulison administers a broad range of programs designed to reduce injuries and death due to disasters, strengthen states and communities and prevent or reduce damage to public and personal property. He is also responsible for enhancing state and local emergency preparedness, training federal, state, and local emergency managers, and conducting a nationwide program of exercises. As head of the U.S. Fire Administration, Mr. Paulison also supports state and local fire service programs and oversees programs to reduce life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies in partnership with fire protection and emergency service communities. Before joining FEMA, Mr. Paulison, who has 30 years of fire rescue services experience, was chief of the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department. In that position, he oversaw 1,900 personnel with a $200 million operating budget and a $70 million capital budget. He also oversaw the county's emergency management office. He began his career as a rescue firefighter and rose through the ranks to rescue lieutenant, battalion commander, district chief of operations, division chief, assistant chief and then deputy director for administration before becoming chief. His emergency management experience includes Hurricane Andrew and the crash of ValuJet Flight 592. A native of Miami, Fla., Mr. Paulison earned a bachelor of arts from Florida Atlantic University and completed the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. He received the LeRoy Collins Distinguished Alumni Award and was inducted into the Miami-Dade Community College Hall of Fame. Mr. Paulison was selected as fire chief of the year by Florida in 1993 and holds positions in several professional associations. He is a certified paramedic and as fire chief, oversaw the Miami-Date Urban Search and Rescue Task Force. He is also past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Sounds like the guy who should have had the job to start with

So9

[navysealdad]

Have you taken this poll yet???

Humor

POLL HERE

[indcons]

I just took the MSM poll. I really like the fact that it is objective and unbiased ;)

[newgeezer]

That old comedian???

Perhaps you're thinking of Pat Paulsen.

[fjsva]

That old comedian???

And presidential candidate for many years....

[lastchance]

Simple because they forgot to wave the "magic disaster change direction now wand". Such wands were common issuance to FEMA during all Democratic administrations but because of the cruel tax cuts of the Republicans the wand program was scrapped. Rumor has it that during Democratic rule the wands also came under criticism because it was noticed a disproportionate number of rich liberals had their homes destroyed by California mudslides. It was suggested that FEMA in their zeal to show their anti wealth credentials to the Democrats forgot about the liberal bona fides of many effected by the slides.
There is some bipartisan effort to bring back the wand program but to restrict it for use in hurricanes in North Dakota, eartquakes in Kansas, forest fires in NYC and tornados in Alaska.

[gondramB]

Apparently Paulison is also "The Duct Tape Guy" whose comments caused the run on duct tape.

Duct tape sales rise amid terror fears CNN Tuesday, February 11, 2003

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Americans have apparently heeded the U.S. government's advice to prepare for terror attacks, emptying hardware store shelves of duct tape.

On Tuesday, less than 24 hours after U.S. Fire Administrator David Paulison described a list of useful items, stores in the greater Washington, D.C. area reported a surge in sales of plastic sheeting, duct tape, and other emergency items.

These items, Paulison said, can be helpful after a biological, chemical or radiological attack.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/02/11/emergency.supplies/index.html