Hurricane response disrupted by reports of militia ‘FEMA hunt’

Recovery efforts in Areas of North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene are unsettled by reports of militia activity targeting FEMA workers. According to a Sunday report from The Washington Post, Federal emergency response personnel halted work in an area of ​​Rutherford County, North Carolina, and relocated personnel after receiving reports that an “armed militia” was “hunting FEMA.”

According to the Job, the incident took place on Saturday. Several agencies involved in hurricane response efforts received an email from a U.S. Forest Service official informing them that “FEMA has advised all federal responders in Rutherford County, North Carolina, to withdraw and evacuate the county immediately. The message said National Guard troops “came across two armed militia trucks saying they were chasing FEMA.” Aid workers stationed in the area returned on Sunday.

Although FEMA did not confirm the credibility of the threat, a spokesperson acknowledged that the agency had made “operational adjustments” to ensure the safety of recovery personnel. “For the safety of our dedicated staff and the disaster survivors we assist, FEMA has made some operational adjustments,” said a person familiar with FEMA operations. Job. “Disaster recovery centers will continue to be open as scheduled, survivors will continue to register for assistance, and we will continue to help North Carolinians recover.”

In the wake of Hurricane Helen, misinformation about FEMA and the government’s response to the disaster spread online. Former President Donald Trump and members of the Republican Party have spread baseless claims that the Biden administration intentionally abandoned storm-hit Republican areas and that money from the FEMA disaster relief fund was allegedly illegally squandered for the benefit of undocumented migrants.

Aid workers fear that unfounded allegations of abandonment, stolen donations and planned land grabs will discourage people who need help and assistance from contacting relief agencies. The storm of misinformation fueled calls for private citizens to take matters into their own hands – even if it meant vigilante violence.

Last week, a viral social media post garnered over 1.4 million impressions on FEMA in North Carolina. He told us: “This is the fight of our lives.” Although there have been no confirmed reports of militia clashes, the climate of fear and intimidation is putting disaster relief agencies on edge.

Officials trying to provide aid to affected communities are begging viewers to stop their bullshit. “We must work together to rebuild and recover from a catastrophic disaster like this – and spreading false information to sow chaos hurts real people,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper wrote last week . “Politicians, billionaires and crooks who peddle lies during times of crisis should be held accountable. »

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