The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it made “operational adjustments” in North Carolina over the weekend and temporarily paused aid in parts of the state amid concerns that an armed militia is threatening government workers.
The Washington Post reported that FEMA had advised federal responders in Rutherford County to “stand down and evacuate the county immediately” on Saturday, citing an email from an official with the U.S. Forest Service, which is supporting recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
The email said National Guard troops had encountered trucks of “armed militia saying they were out hunting FEMA.”
In a Sunday post on Facebook, Ashe County Sheriff Phil Howell said FEMA had “paused their process as they are assessing the threats.”
A spokesperson for FEMA told Newsweek on Monday that the agency had made changes to its recovery efforts to ensure the safety of staff and survivors.
“FEMA continues to support communities impacted by Helene and help survivors apply for assistance,” the spokesperson said.
Makiya Seminera/AP
“For the safety of our dedicated staff and the disaster survivors we are helping, FEMA has made some operational adjustments. Disaster Recovery Centers will continue to be open as scheduled, survivors continue to register for assistance, and we continue to help the people of North Carolina with their recovery.”
Newsweek has learned that disaster survivor assistance teams are currently working at fixed locations and secure areas and are no longer going door to door out of an abundance of caution.
Shayne Martin, a spokesperson for the Forest Service, told Newsweek that “a Forest Service liaison supporting the response to Hurricane Helene received an alert from FEMA that, in accordance with protocol, he relayed to interagency leadership” on Saturday. Martin said the “communication was an internal one intended to help keep partners informed of the situation.”
Martin added: “It’s important to mention, many Forest Service employees live in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. The U.S. Forest Service continues to actively support communities impacted by Hurricane Helene in partnership with FEMA and state and local teams, and we will do so if the need remains.”
FEMA has been fighting misinformation since Helene hit Florida on September 26, before leaving a trail of destruction across several southeastern states as it traveled north.
Some on social media called for FEMA to be targeted after a rumor that the devastated North Carolina town of Chimney Rock was going to be seized and bulldozed by the government circulated online despite local authorities and news outlets debunking the claim.
Former President Donald Trump and others have also fueled false claims that FEMA has not been able to respond well enough because it diverted disaster relief funds to help migrants. That is not true—while FEMA administers the Shelter and Services Program, funding comes from a separate pot of money funded by Congress for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Other false claims have also been made, including that people taking federal relief money could see their land seized or that $750 is the most they will ever get to rebuild. FEMA has set up a page on its website to combat misinformation and rumors.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told reporters last week that the false claims were hurting worker morale as she urged people in hard-hit areas to accept the government’s assistance.
“We have thousands of people on the ground, not just federal, but also our volunteers in the private sector,” Criswell said at a news conference in Asheville on October 7.
“And frankly, that type of rhetoric is demoralizing to our staff that have left their families to come here and help the people of North Carolina. And we will be here as long as they’re needed.”
Update 10/14/24 10:08 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 10/14/24 12:30 p.m. ET: This article’s headline and body was updated to reflect additional information.
Update 10/15/24 4 a.m. ET: This article’s headline and body was updated to reflect additional information.
