Katrina Recovery Leader to Retire

AP

Monday, Dec. 31, 2007 | 12:15 p.m.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency official who for the past two years led the agency's troubled Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts will retire Thursday, the head of FEMA announced in an internal memo.

Gil Jamieson, whose tenure as administrator of Gulf Coast recovery included controversies over formaldehyde in FEMA trailers and funding delays, will be temporarily replaced by James Stark. Stark currently leads FEMA's Louisiana recovery offices.

The change was announced in a Dec. 21 memorandum from FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison that was distributed to all FEMA employees.

Paulison, who did not immediately return a call for comment Sunday, gave no indication why Jamieson was retiring now, or if his permanent replacement will be from within FEMA's ranks.

Jamieson's press office did not return calls seeking comment on Sunday.

The recovery effort has been criticized by local residents and officials who complain that FEMA has created a maze of red tape with its interpretation of laws governing disaster aid.

More than two years after the storms, large swaths of New Orleans and the Gulf remain in disrepair while FEMA bureaucrats and state agencies bicker over the regulations.

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