Ex-FEMA Head Brown Criticizes Chinese Response to Toxic Spill

HARBIN, China -- (CNN -- Chinese News Network) -- The recent toxic spill on the Songhua River has left the 4 million residents of Harbin, China, without water for the fourth day in a row. Today as Chinese premier Wen Jiabao visits the stricken city, he faces both national and international criticism. At the heart of the anger: the government's slow response to the potentially lethal spill of benzene from a petrochemical plant.

Michael Brown, former head of FEMA, added his voice to the growing chorus of critics lambasting Beijing's response. "This is unacceptable," said Brown. "Millions of hapless citizens have been left to molder amid the ruins of their homes by a government infrastructure that is out of touch with the reality on the ground. This is a sad testimony to the so-called 'preparedness' of Beijing and an embarrassment to President Hu Jintao."

Brown offered his assistance and that of his new business, a disaster planning firm based in Colorado.