Former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown drew criticism today for a controversial tweet sent during Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans.
After the power went out in the third quarter, Brown tweeted:
Someone just told me there was fighting going on in the NOLA Superdome. #shocked
Brown's comment was retweeted 98 times, as of publication, and had numerous replies today:
- "@MichaelBrownUSA Clueless then, classless now. #jerk" - @brydertna
- "Brownie, you're a heckuva jerkoff!! ... " - @DeepEndDining
- "what the f--- is wrong with you @MichaelBrownUSA" - @dudehugs
- "wow @MichaelBrownUSA pretty awesome how you feel enough time has passed since you got a lot of people killed that you can joke about it!" - @heySMM
According to MSNBC, nine people died in the Superdome, where residents sought shelter from the flooding brought by Katrina in 2005, and multiple Lake Pontchartrain levee failures. The Government Accountability Office later said that the government's rescue efforts were mismanaged
In emails obtained by CNN — on the morning of Katrina's landfall, Brown asked his deputy director of public affairs, "Are you proud of me? Can I quit now? Can I come home?"
On Sep. 4, 2005, Brown's press secretary emailed him, "Please roll up the sleeves of your shirt...all shirts. Even the President rolled his sleeves to just below the elbow. In this crisis and on TV you just need to look more hard-working...ROLL UP THE SLEEVES!"
Brown resigned eight days later. At least 986 people died in Louisiana as a result of Hurricane Katrina, according to a 2008 report.
Prior to heading FEMA, Brown was a Judges and Stewards Commissioner for the International Arabian Horse Association. Last October, Yahoo! News reported that Brown said President Obama responded to Hurricane Sandy too quickly.
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