As the nearly 65,000 residents of hard-hit Rutherford County, North Carolina struggle to clean up the endless mud and debris left behind by Hurricane Heleneaid has hit a roadblock.
North Carolina Federal Emergency Management Agency crews were forced to relocate due to a reported armed threat against employees, first reported by The Washington Post. Out of an abundance of caution, FEMA said its disaster response teams will be stationed at fixed locations rather than going door to door, which has been the agency’s usual practice in the past.
FEMA said search and rescue efforts are still ongoing and disaster recovery centers remain open.
The move comes after the U.S. Forest Service sent an email to federal responders in Rutherford County, warning them of an apparent withdrawal after National Guard troops reportedly encountered armed militias claiming they were “hunting FEMA.” .
Helene made landfall as a powerful Category 4 storm near Perry, Florida on September 26. It tore through six states, leaving more than a few left behind 225 people dead, most in North Carolina.
“FEMA continues to support communities affected by Helene and assist survivors in applying for assistance. For the safety of our dedicated staff and the disaster survivors we serve, FEMA has made some operational adjustments. Disaster Recovery Centers remain open as planned, survivors continue to register for assistance, and we will continue to help the people of North Carolina with their recovery,” FEMA said in a statement to CBS News.
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The North Carolina National Guard sent CBS News the following statement, saying: “The NCNG has no reports of our soldiers or airmen encountering armed militias, threats and fighters of any type. We continue to serve all those counties that need our help.” assistance.”
False claims have surfaced online, including that the federal government planned to halt search and rescue efforts to seize and bulldoze Chimney Roc and that the victims received only $750 in aid. Many of the conspiracy theories have prompted FEMA to create a page on its site discrediting rumors and false information about its response to Hurricane Helene.
Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly spread the word wrong informationsuggesting that FEMA funds for hurricane victims were diverted and given to migrants. Although FEMA sometimes provides assistance to immigrants, the funding source is separate from disaster relief.
“We have people who need help and are entitled to help, but who are not asking for it because of the false information,” Interior Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said. on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Sunday.
President Biden addressed last week false claimsincluding one that said the government can control the weather, promoted by some Republican politicians.
“Marjorie Taylor Greene, the congresswoman from Georgia, is now saying the federal government literally controls the weather, we control the weather. It’s beyond ridiculous. It’s so stupid, it has to stop.” Mr. Biden said in his remarks from the White House.
Over the weekend, Mr. Biden visited Florida for the second time in just over a week to survey the storm damage afterward Hurricane Milton called the Sunshine State’s Gulf Coast a Category 3 storm. Sunday is the The president announced $600 million in aid for areas affected by Helene and Milton.
