Capital Tiger Bay Club was honored to have Craig Fugate, the informative and comedic former FEMA and FL Dept. of Emergency Management Director, as our featured speaker. Thank you to Matt Ubben, our Tiger Bay member introducer, for helping kick off the event.
Craig Fugate served as President Barack Obama’s FEMA Administrator from May 2009 to January 2017. Previously, he served as Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s Emergency Management Director from 2001-2009. Fugate led FEMA through multiple record-breaking disaster years and oversaw the Federal Government’s response to major events such as the Joplin and Moore Tornadoes, Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Matthew, and the 2016 Louisiana flooding. Fugate set a clear and compelling vision, mission, and priorities for FEMA and relentlessly drove the Agency to achieve better outcomes for survivors. FEMA’s effectiveness in dealing with more than 500 Presidentially declared major disasters and emergencies under Fugate’s leadership restored the faith of the American people in the Federal Government’s ability to respond to disasters.
Prior to his tenure at FEMA, Fugate was widely praised for his management, under Governor Jeb Bush, of the devastating effects of the 2004 and 2005 Florida hurricane seasons (Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne, Dennis, Katrina, and Wilma).
Just ahead of hurricane season, the discussion was both timely and valuable. Those who attended and participated made the event a great success.
In case you weren’t able to attend, here is some excellent coverage from the event:
- Tallahassee Democrat/USA TODAY Network-Florida: Tiger Bay Q&A with Craig Fugate, Florida Master of Disasters, Waffle House Index inventor
- WFSU: The former “Master of Disaster” for Florida and the nation urges more Tallahassee tree trimming
- POLITICO: FUGATE TALKS CLIMATE, RISK
Please visit WFSU for a replay of the full event here.