David Richardson, the acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), told staff he didn’t know the United States had a hurricane season, according to four people familiar with the exchange.

Homeland Security officials say FEMA head David Richardson was joking when he said he wasn't aware of the annual U.S. hurricane season, which began on June 1.

Just one day after the official start of hurricane season, FEMA Administrator David Richardson has come under scrutiny for a controversial remark during an internal briefing.