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.

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.

It was not clear to staff whether FEMA's David Richardson meant it literally or as a joke, but current and former employees who spoke with CBS News said the comment flustered many.