Staff of the were confused and dispirited on Monday after the acting head of the agency said during a daily briefing that he had not been aware the country has a , according to three sources familiar with the meeting.

The remark was made by David Richardson at the conclusion of an 8:30 a.m. daily operational briefing typically attended by hundreds of FEMA staffers and interagency partners. Reuters was first to report the comment.

Richardson, a former Marine Corps officer, has .

It was not clear to staff whether he meant it literally or as a joke, but current and former employees who spoke with CBS News said the comment flustered many who genuinely believe Richardson was truly surprised to learn that had started.

Others suggested that any joke made by the leader about the upcoming

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