Former FEMA Director Michael Brown — who ran the George W. Bush administration’s botched rescue efforts during Hurricane Katrina — said Monday that Harvey will surely be worse than the devastating 2005 storm.
Brown said flooding in population-dense Houston, America’s fourth largest city, is likely to bring unprecedented suffering and damage.
“There are several factors that make it worse than Katrina. For one, there is the scope of the flooding. Harris County and the surrounding areas are so saturated,” Brown told the Houston Chronicle. “Also, the amount of damages will continue to grow. There will be mold and structural damages adding up.”
Brown said when Tropical Storm Harvey finally goes away, it will leave an incredible bill for taxpayers to pick up.
“This will unfathomably expensive for both the private sector and taxpayers,” Brown said. “This will be easily the most expensive natural disaster in American history.”
Brown became the focal point of national anger during and immediately after Katrina, with the Bush White House accused of slow action.
Criticism of the White House reached its peak when Bush, in an oddly jovial tone of voice, told Brown: “Brownie you’re doing a heck of job!”
Brown is now a syndicated radio host.