Brown's E-Mails After Katrina Show Concern About His Image, Dog

By Jeff Bliss
Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown discussed his appearance, his dog and his public image as the government's relief effort unraveled after Hurricane Katrina, based on e-mails released yesterday.

``If you'll look at my lovely FEMA attire you'll really vomit,'' Brown wrote to colleagues the morning of Aug. 29, the day the storm hit the Gulf Coast. ``I am a fashion god.''

The e-mails were among 1,000 pages of electronic messages the Homeland Security Department turned over to a special House panel probing the federal response. They show Brown wasn't fully engaged in managing the emergency response to the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, according to a report by Representative Charles Melancon, a Louisiana Democrat.

The messages show ``Mr. Brown made few decisions and seemed out of touch,'' said the report written by Melancon's aides.

In an e-mail early on Aug. 29, Brown acknowledged a colleague's compliment about his clothing. ``Are you proud of me?'' he wrote. ``Can I quit now? Can I go home?''

Nicol Andrews, a FEMA spokeswoman, said the selective release of the e-mails distorts the decision-making process during the storm and in the immediate aftermath. Brown didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

`What Went Right'

``FEMA is cooperating fully with Congress in looking at what went right and what went wrong during the federal response to Katrina,'' she said. It's ``hard to believe that supplying the media with a few e-mails taken entirely out of context helps to accomplish that task.''

Rob White, a spokesman for Republican Representative Tom Davis of Virginia, chairman of the special panel investigating the hurricane response, said that while ``I can't say we agree 100 percent'' with the Democratic analysis, ``these e-mails do raise important questions about what actions he was taking or not taking.''

After receiving several e-mails about the breach of levees that were supposed to protect New Orleans from flooding on Aug. 29, Brown questioned their accuracy, writing, ``I'm being told here water over not a breach.''

Most congressional critics and administration officials have said the breaching of the levees overwhelmed the federal, state and local responses. TV images of stranded New Orleans hurricane survivors without food, water or medical attention prompted outrage among Americans and Congress and led to Brown's resignation on Sept. 12.

`How To Do It'

In a Sept. 27 appearance before the House panel, Brown defended his actions. ``I get it when it comes to emergency management, I know what it's all about,'' he said. ``I know how to do it, and I think I do a pretty darn good job of it.''

On Aug. 31, in response to a message detailing how people are being ``kicked out'' of New Orleans hotels and that food and water had run out at the Superdome, the city's primary shelter, Brown responded, ``Thanks for the update. Anything specific I need to do or tweak?''

On Sept. 4, as criticism mounted of the federal effort, Brown received an e-mail from Sharon Worthy, whom the Melancon report identified as the former director's press secretary, telling him: ``You just need to look more hard-working...ROLL UP THE SLEEVES!''

In other e-mails, Brown searched for someone to care for his dog at his home and recommended former colleagues to defend him in a potentially negative story about his past management of the International Arabian Horse Association.

Brown wrote ``do you know of anyone who dog sits?'' in an e-mail to his assistant on Aug. 30. ``If you know of any responsible kids, let me know.''

In another, he asked a friend to ``make the connection'' so that ex-colleagues could defend his past work for reporters.

To contact the reporter on this story:
Jeff Bliss in Washington at jbliss@bloomberg.net

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