FEMA chief David Richardson startled 200 staffers at an 8:30 a.m. briefing by admitting he didn’t know the U.S. has a hurricane season. With hurricane season starting June 1 and NOAA predicting 13 to 19 storms, his comment left staff “flustered.”

Richardson’s baffling admission, delivered during a daily FEMA meeting, triggered confusion and poor morale amid ongoing resignations and polygraph tests. A Homeland Security spokesperson insisted FEMA remains “laser focused” on disaster response, but staffers weren’t reassured.

NOAA predicts 13 to 19 named storms, with up to 5 major hurricanes hitting the U.S. this season.