By Randall Mikkelsen
WASHINGTON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. government's main
disaster-response agency apologized on Friday for having its employees
pose as reporters in a hastily called news conference on California's
wildfires that no news organizations attended. The Federal
Emergency Management Agency, still struggling to restore its image
after the bungled handling of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, issued the
apology after The Washington Post published details of the Tuesday
briefing.
"We can and must do better, and apologize for this
error in judgment," FEMA deputy administrator Harvey Johnson, who
conducted the briefing, said in a statement. "Our intent was to provide
useful information and be responsive to the many questions we have
received."
No actual reporter attended the news conference in person, agency spokesman Aaron Walker said.
A spokeswoman for Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who has
authority over FEMA, called the incident "inexcusable and offensive to
the secretary."
"We have made it clear that stunts such as this
will not be tolerated or repeated," spokeswoman Laura Keehner said. She
said the department was looking at the possibility of reprimanding
those responsible.
The agency had called the briefing with about
15 minutes notice as federal officials headed for southern California
to oversee and assist in firefighting and rescue efforts. Reporters
were also given a telephone number to listen in on but could not ask
questions. But with no reporters on hand and an agency video
camera providing a feed carried live by some television networks, FEMA
press employees posed the questions for Johnson that included: "Are you
happy with FEMA's response so far?"
According to Friday's Post
account, which Walker confirmed, Johnson replied that he was "very
happy with FEMA's response so far." He also said the agency had
the benefit of "good leadership" and other factors, "none of which were
present at Katrina."
Chertoff was head of the Homeland Security
Department during Katrina. FEMA's administrator during Katrina,
Michael Brown, resigned amid widespread criticism over his handling of
the disaster, despite U.S. President George W. Bush's initial
declaration that he was doing a "heck of a job." E-mails between
Brown and his colleagues over the course of the storm revealed a
preoccupation with his media image, including his declaration, "I am a
fashion god."
FEMA is reviewing its press procedures and will
make changes to ensure they are "straightforward and transparent,"
Johnson said on Friday.
