FEMA Apologizes For Staging Fake Press Conference - FEMA Employees Acted As News Reporters

October 27, 2007

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA, the chief disaster agency of the United States, is again in “hot water” as facts emerge that it staged a fake press conference, complete with FEMA employees “acting” as reporters.

According to several news reports, deputy FEMA administrator, Harvey Johnson, had an unusually friendly audience at an Oct. 23 news briefing on his agencys response to the California wildfires.

FEMA drafted its own employees to play the part of reporters at a hastily called news conference when no members of the media showed up.

As a result, Johnson took questions like, “Are you happy with FEMAs response so far?”

FEMA Administrator David Paulison was flying to California at the time and it is unclear whether he knew about the staged news conference.

Johnson issued a statement Friday apologizing for the error and promised to change the agencys news procedures.

Both the White House and the Homeland Security Department criticized FEMAs conduct.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said it is not appropriate that the questions were posed by agency staffers instead of reporters, and the agency should take responsibility for it.

The Homeland Security Department, which includes FEMA, said the incident is a “simply inexcusable and offensive mistake.”

The departments spokeswoman Laura Keehner, said punishment may apply in the case.

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