BELLEAIR - The Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce invited Michael Brown to speak to members about disaster planning Friday, December 1, at the Belleview Biltmore Hotel and Resort. The engagement was sponsored by OnScreen Technologies Inc., based in Portland, Oregon, with an office in Safety Harbor.
Brown was appointed by President George W. Bush as Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and quit the position two weeks after Hurricane Katrina's 150 mph winds hit the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005 and killed 1,700. His prior experience to Katrina was in handling 160 previous presidential declared disasters.
'Brownie' as President Bush called him in an infamous sound bite, became the poster boy for catastrophe fall guys when hurricane Katrina relief efforts fell short. Now on the speaking circuit, Brown imparts lessons he's learned to groups concerned with disaster management and planning.
He told the Chamber luncheon attendees that Lesson Number 1 is, "The government can not save you." Brown maintained that it's an individual's responsibility to evacuate when told to, and not put their own lives and the lives of emergency responders in danger. "Don't we owe it to them to keep them from losing their lives?" Brown asked.
Brown encouraged community leaders at the luncheon to communicate responsibly and honesty during disasters. He said straight talk from leaders is needed, not talking points like those the White House provided him with during the Katrina disaster. Brown said the talking points he was given to report during Katrina were factually true, but out of context. "I should have crumpled them up and said it's not enough," lamented Brown, who added, "I should have said, 'Folks, it ain't work'n."
Brown praised Florida's preparedness and Governor Elect Charlie Crist for "getting it". "Florida is a better prepared state frankly, than any other state I've been in," he said.
Someone asked Brown if he had a crystal ball to read the future concerning Florida's high property insurance rate crisis, which led to the subject of cost sharing. Maintaining that he is all for free market and property ownership, Brown said people should fully understand the risks connected with where they live and insurance companies should make sure everyone knows why they are paying such high rates for their properties. About those who choose to live in coastal areas he said, "Don't expect the people from Colorado to foot the bill."
Brown resides in Colorado.
In addition to making the rounds on the speaking circuit, he works for ONScreen Inc., the luncheon's sponsor. ONScreen developed fold up marquee signs for police and other emergency responders to keep in their vehicles to use during disasters to communicate instructions and warnings to the public. During Katrina, instructions were often painted on plywood and building sides.