Hurricane Season has begun. Does the new FEMA director have experience managing natural disasters?

FEMA Director David Richardson has no prior experience managing responses to natural disasters.

Richardson most recently was the assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.

Prior to his government position, Richardson was a combat officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. who served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa during the Long War. 

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.

The Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. The peak hurricane season occurs between mid-August and late October.

Since 1850, all of Florida’s coastline has been impacted by at least one hurricane.

In 2024, Florida was struck by three major hurricanes: Debby, Helene and Milton.