The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) restarted their door-to-door hurricane recovery efforts on the ground in North Carolina after a brief suspension due to recent security threats.
Over the weekend, FEMA workers operating in North Carolina’s Rutherford County in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene were told to evacuate on Saturday over concerns that an “armed militia” was threatening workers in the area. Authorities have since arrested a man on Saturday accused of making other violent threats to FEMA workers. The suspect, William Jacob Parsons, 44, was charged with “going armed to the terror of the public,” Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Monday. He has been released on bail and denies making threats towards aid workers.
In response to the threats, a FEMA spokesperson previously confirmed to Newsweek on Monday that the agency had made changes to its recovery efforts to ensure the safety of staff and survivors. Disaster survivor assistance teams worked temporarily at fixed locations and secure areas, and they no longer went door to door out of an abundance of caution following the threats.
“For the safety of our dedicated staff and the disaster survivors we are helping, FEMA has made some operational adjustments,” the spokesperson said. “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.”
However, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell confirmed during a Tuesday briefing that disaster teams resumed field operations on Monday with door-to-door visits and increased safety measures in place.
“The federal family has been here working side by side with the state since Day One. These are people who put their lives on hold to help those who have lost everything,” Criswell said at a briefing Tuesday. “So let me be clear. I take these threats seriously.”
Makiya Seminera/AP
The security threats came as FEMA continues fighting misinformation since Helene hit Florida on September 26, leaving a trail of destruction across several southeastern states as it traveled north.
Some people on social media called for FEMA to be targeted after a rumor circulated online that the devastated North Carolina town of Chimney Rock was going to be seized and bulldozed by the government 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 claim 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.
Weighing in on the threats that caused the temporary pause in door-to-door efforts, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper emphasized the detrimental impact of disinformation.
“There’s still a persistent and dangerous flow of misinformation about recovery efforts in western North Carolina that can lead to threats and intimidation, breeds confusion and demoralizes storm survivors and response workers alike,” Cooper said at Tuesday’s briefing. “If you’re participating in spreading this stuff, stop it. Whatever your aim is, the people you are really hurting are those in western North Carolina who need help.”
In addition, when asked what might be causing the proliferation of disinformation, Cooper pointed towards social media and the political climate.
“This is happening in the middle of an election where candidates are using people’s misery to sow chaos for their own political objectives—and it’s wrong,” Cooper said. “It’s disappointing when candidates knowing full well what they’re doing are continuing this kind of disinformation filled with lies.”
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
