Misinformation and disinformation are harming the ability of storm-ravaged communities in Western North Carolina to receive federal aid when they need it most, Gov. Roy Cooper and FEMA Administrator Deanna Criswell said Tuesday.
The comments come after a man was arrested and charged with holding himself armed to terrorize the public after allegedly roaming Rutherford County saying he would harm FEMA workers. Criswell decided to pause door-to-door efforts in the area, which have since resumed.
“Frankly, it is heartbreaking to see words or actions of hatred towards anyone, let alone federal first responders who are here to help people during this critical time. So let me be clear: I take these threats seriously and the safety of these first responders is and will remain a priority for me and my team,” Criswell said.
As of Tuesday morning, FEMA had approved more than 71,000 applications for its Individual Assistance Program in Helene-affected counties, with survivors receiving more than $99 million. More than 171,000 people have applied for assistance, said FEMA spokesman Lucas Hitt.
Cooper pointed to the storm that occurred about a month before the election as a major reason for the amount of inaccurate and downright false information that has been spread about the storm and the response to it.
“Candidates are using people’s misery to sow chaos for their own political purposes, and that is wrong. This is a time when we all need to work together to help the people of Western North Carolina, and it is disappointing when candidates, who know full well what they are doing, continue this type of disinformation filled with lies,” Cooper said.
Disinformation is the intentional spread of false or misleading information, while disinformation is false information shared without intent.
Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, has singled out Cooper, a Democrat, for criticism. Trump has amplified false claims that Cooper and President Joe Biden have limited aid to Helene-damaged parts of Western North Carolina where they are more likely to vote Republican.
Trump has also falsely claimed that FEMA is only giving Helene survivors $750 in aid. The $750 payment is an immediate, urgent payment to help people affected by the storm meet their daily needs such as baby formula, food or gasoline. Even after people receive that payment, FEMA says, the agency will continue to consider eligibility for other funds.
Cooper also called on Mark Robinson, the lieutenant governor of North Carolina and the Republican candidate in the governor’s race. Immediately after Helene, Robinson began claiming that Cooper was abandoning the people of North Carolina, a claim he has continually repeated while campaigning and helping organize a donation drive.
“He has to stop this, and there are other people who have to stop this misinformation that is ultimately hurting people who have lost everything,” Cooper said.
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety has made law enforcement available to coordinate with officials on the ground, including FEMA workers and other volunteers who may be threatened, Cooper said.
People are still missing
There have now been 95 confirmed deaths from Tropical Storm Helene in North Carolina, Kody Kinsley, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, said Tuesday.
The state has also formed a task force that will work with local law enforcement agencies to review missing persons reports and see how many people are still missing after the storm. As of Tuesday, 92 people had been reported missing and had not been found, Cooper said.
“I would caution that this is not a final count as the task force continues its work. The number will continue to fluctuate as more reports are received and others are resolved,” Cooper said.
Cold weather coming
As temperatures begin to drop in Western North Carolina, the state is trying to send cold weather items such as heaters, blankets and jackets to the region.
In Buncombe County, a weather station on the UNC-Asheville campus recorded a temperature of 36 degrees Fahrenheit at 8 a.m. Tuesday. That’s the second time since Helene struck on September 27 that the station recorded a temperature below 40 degrees.
“We have seen a shift from the types of commodities that were emphasized two weeks ago, such as food and water, to more cold weather gear,” said Will Ray, director of NC Emergency Management, adding. The state is working to fulfill these requests “as quickly as possible.”
The state is working with the National Guard and the Department of Transportation to ensure people who have lost their homes can stay warm, Ray said. That includes finding space in shelters or more stable temporary housing.
There are still 13 shelters open in Western North Carolina, housing more than 500 people and 80 pets, Ray said.
About 4,600 people with storm-damaged homes are staying in hotels through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program.
“We are trying to put all available options on the table to support those who have been affected, especially in the area of housing,” Ray said.
This story was produced with funding from the Hartfield Foundation and Green South Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O has full editorial control over the work. If you would like to help support local journalism, please consider signing up for a digital subscription. You can do that here.
