Jax Daily

Florida’s disaster czar who helped shepherd the state through the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, was nominated Wednesday by President Obama to head the Federal Emergency Management Administration.

Craig Fugate, who has run the Florida Division of Emergency Management since 2001, would replace acting FEMA director Nancy Ward as head of the agency that employs 2,600 full-time staff and has more than 4,000 stand-by disaster employees. Fugate must be confirmed by the Senate.

“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, response and recovery efforts and I can think of no one better to lead FEMA,” Obama said in a statement released by the White House.

Fugate has worked for years in emergency response, from serving as a volunteer firefighter and paramedic in the Gainesville area to 10 years as the emergency management director for Alachua County before he worked for the state.

“Through hurricanes and tornadoes and other natural disasters, Craig has been a steady and capable hand,” Gov. Charlie Crist said in a statement Wednesday. “While he will be leaving his post here in Florida, we look forward to working with him at the federal level.”

Shortly after Hurricane Katrina hammered New Orleans, Fugate was critical of the state and federal response to the massive storm, saying that officials should have had more resources and personnel in place in anticipation of the disaster. He later declined a position with the federal agency, choosing instead to remain as Florida’s top emergency manager.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush repeatedly sung Fugate’s praises as the pair became synonymous with disaster response.

While both were widely seen as helping Florida have a strong response to the disasters on their watch, Fugate frequently saw his role as educator of ordinary people to make themselves ready, and often stressed the responsibility of the individual citizen to prepare for storms.

But the state’s efficiency in emergency preparedness on Fugate’s watch may have come back to bite the government. After Florida dramatically reduced the time it took to respond to post-hurricane needs, many people got complacent. After Hurricane Wilma, for example, the state was criticized for not having enough material immediately on hand – even though Fugate had warned residents to stock up on their own.

But overall, Fugate has been widely praised and is admired by his colleagues.

“Florida is indebted to Craig for his service during two unprecedented back-to-back hurricane seasons,” Bush said Wednesday. “I wish Craig the best of luck in his new position. I am confident he will advance reforms that strengthen our nation’s preparedness and bottom-up approach to emergency management.”