In a meeting with FEMA staff, David Richardson said he was unaware the United States had a hurricane season. Two staff members said it was unclear if he was serious, but the agency said he was joking.

An official from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, said he meant the comment as a joke.

The timing of the supposed joke, however, remains questionable as hurricane season in the United States just began this week on June 1.