Craig Fugate refocusing a chastened FEMA

By The Federal Eye in Thursday's Post:

W. Craig Fugate's corner office at the Federal Emergency Management Agency is sparse: a few family photos, a couple of blue and orange mementos from his beloved University of Florida Gators, and not much else.

"In big disasters, I ain't going to be here," FEMA's director said, pointing to his desk.

Fugate, former head of Florida's emergency agency, believes strongly that state and local officials must lead in disaster response, so barking orders at them during a crisis isn't his thing. But "sitting back here looking at computer screens, drinking coffee and using a flush toilet that works and not understanding the adversities they're dealing with in the field" isn't acceptable, either.

Five years ago when Hurricane Katrina hit, Fugate was working for Florida's Gov. Jeb Bush. By the time the levees broke in New Orleans he was kicking the walls in frustration as the governor's younger brother, President George W. Bush, lost control of the situation.

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