The acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, David Richardson, told staff he was unaware that the United States had a hurricane season, according to multiple reports. 

Reuters reports that FEMA employees who heard his remarks during a Monday meeting said they were unsure if he was serious.

Recommended Stories

• Trump won't garnish Social Security benefits for borrowers in default on student loans
• Florida divers who freed sharks caught by NOAA vessel ‘extremely grateful’ for Trump pardon
• Inside Trump's decision to yank NASA nominee and his plans for a replacement

“Suffice to say, disaster response is no joke. If you don’t know what or when hurricane season is, you’re not qualified to run FEMA. Get someone knowledgeable in there,” Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS), the senior Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee with oversight of FEMA, told Reuters.

The Department of Homeland Security, which houses FEMA, said in a statement that Richardson was joking. It told CNN the agency is “laser-focused on disaster response and protecting the American people.”

The timing of the supposed joke, however, remains questionable as hurricane season in the U.S. just began this week on June 1 and runs through November. 

Richardson has no disaster response experience. Staff at FEMA told Reuters that Richardson’s comments spurred confusion among employees and reignited their concern about his lack of familiarity with FEMA’s operations.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted 13 to 19 named storms this year, six to 10 of which will become hurricanes. Hurricanes have increased in frequency and intensity in recent years due to the impacts of warming oceans caused by global warming.

The typical hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean would have 14 named storms, seven of which become hurricanes and three of which become major hurricanes.

FEDERAL WORKERS WARN OF SAFETY THREAT AFTER NOAA LAYOFFS: ‘PERFECT STORM’

Richardson was appointed the new head of FEMA last month after his predecessor, Cameron Hamilton. Hamilton was abruptly fired after opposing the Trump administration.

Richardson promised to enforce the president’s agenda, telling staff on his first day that he would “run right over” anyone who tries to prevent him from carrying out Trump’s mission, according to CNN.