Obama Chooses Emergency Manager for FEMA

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/washington/05fema.html?ref=us

WASHINGTON — President Obama has nominated Florida’s emergency manager to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency, turning to a Republican with experience in natural disasters to help restore credibility to an agency whose reputation was badly damaged by its response to Hurricane Katrina.

The nominee, W. Craig Fugate, has been director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management since 2001 and is credited with steering the state through some of the most devastating hurricane seasons in recent history. In a 2006 profile, Florida Trend Magazine said that in times of crisis Mr. Fugate was usually “the calmest guy in the room.”

“From his experience as a first responder to his strong leadership as Florida’s emergency manager, Craig has what it takes to help us improve our preparedness,” Mr. Obama said in a statement. He added he was confident Mr. Fugate would “ensure that the failures of the past are never repeated.”

Mr. Fugate is expected to travel to the Gulf Coast on Thursday with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who described him as “a tremendous asset,” adding, “The work he’s accomplished in Florida serves as a model for other states.”

<snip>

Mr. Fugate did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday. But in a Twitter message he sent after the White House announcement, even he seemed surprised about where he had landed.

“Pigs do fly,” he wrote.
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:)

At this point, I'm forgetting they started out without wings.