Former FEMA director Michael Brown to discuss new book, June 21

Michael Brown, the former FEMA director widely blamed for the federal government's poor response to Hurricane Katrina, will discuss his new book, Deadly Indifference: The Perfect (Political) Storm, on Tuesday, June 21 at 6:30 p.m.

In the book, co-authored by Ted Schwarz, Brown describes the role of politics in a risk-averse society facing natural or manmade disasters. He has spoken around the world on issues of homeland security, crisis management and disaster response.

Brown served as the first under secretary of Homeland Security for President George W. Bush from 2003-2005, director, deputy director and general counsel of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2001-2005.

In Brown’s tenure as head of FEMA he had to deal with the Katrina catastrophe and for apparent mismanagement was publicly excoriated and finally relieved of his post. At the time, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff recalled Brown to Washington and removed him from the immediate supervision of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, replacing him Coast Guard Admiral Thad W. Allen.

Brown blogs on national security issues for The National Journal, and writes on politics for The Daily Caller and The Huffington Post.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing for $24.95. Proceeds benefit the Eric Friedheim National Journalism Library. No outside books are permitted.

There is a $5 charge for non-members. Reservations are required. RSVP at [email protected] or call 202-662-7523.