Armed militias ‘hunt down FEMA’
North Carolina: According to reports, federal emergency response personnel in Rutherford County, North Carolina, after Hurricane Helene were ordered to leave the region on Saturday due to worries that an “armed militia” would pose a danger to their safety.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has advised all federal responders in Rutherford County to “stand down and evacuate the country immediately,” according to a message sent to various federal agencies at around 1 p.m. on Saturday by a representative of the U.S. Forest Service, which is assisting with recovery efforts alongside FEMA, according to The Washington Post.
“Armed militia saying they were out hunting FEMA,” according to the email, had been seen by National Guard soldiers on patrol. “The IMTs [incident management teams] have been notified and are coordinating the evacuation of all assigned personnel in that county.”
It was unclear if the threat detailed in the email was taken seriously, despite The Post reporting that two federal officials had attested to the email’s legitimacy.
The publication was informed by an unidentified Forest Service official that staff members had been relocated to a “safe area” and that part of the region’s activity had been suspended. By Sunday afternoon, they had returned, according to the official.
Emails seeking comments were sent outside of regular business hours to FEMA, the Forest Service, and the National Guard. If a response is received, this article will be updated.
The event highlights the mounting worries about the security of government employees in North Carolina, which was severely damaged in certain areas after Hurricane Helene’s impact in Florida on September 26. As Helene swept northward, it claimed the lives of at least 230 people and left a path of devastation across six states.
Since then, there have been a lot of false claims and hearsay about FEMA’s and other government agencies’ reactions.
After local officials and news outlets refuted a report that the government was preparing to confiscate and demolish the destroyed community of Chimney Rock, others on social media called for FEMA to be targeted.
Republicans who supported former president Donald Trump and other Republicans have also accused FEMA of failing to adequately react to Hurricane Helene because the agency had utilized monies intended for disaster assistance to assist migrants.
That is untrue, as, while the Shelter and Services Program is managed by FEMA, financing for it originates from a different budget allocated by Congress for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Other false statements that have gone around include that those receiving government assistance may have their property stolen or that the maximum amount of money they may ever get for reconstruction is $750. By creating a page on its website dedicated to dispelling myths and disinformation, FEMA has retaliated against the unfounded allegations and conspiracy theories.
Last week, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell encouraged residents in severely affected regions to accept the government’s offer of help, stating that the bogus claims were negatively affecting staff morale.
Criswell said, “We have thousands of people on the ground, not just federal, but also our volunteers in the private sector,” on October 7 at a press conference in Asheville.
“And to be honest, our staff members who came here to assist the people of North Carolina after leaving their families find that kind of speech depressing. And for as long as they are required, we will stay here.”
