Because the Federal Emergency Administration Company responds to Hurricane Helene’s lethal impacts and braces for Hurricane Milton to hit Florida, some social media customers amplified baseless falsehoods about FEMA stealing catastrophe provides.
In a video shared Oct. 2 on Fb, Jeremy Herrell, the host of Stay From America TV, a conservative media web site stated: “FEMA, that now has jurisdiction in quite a lot of these areas, is actually confiscating donations and aid supplies,” itemizing gadgets like first help kits, meals and water.
(Screenshot from Fb)
On Threads, a person claimed {that a} pal in a disaster-stricken neighborhood in Tennessee instructed them that FEMA and the Tennessee Emergency Administration Company had been “out right here confiscating provides from neighborhood donation facilities.”
“I am attempting to share it bc that is what’s *really* taking place and it’ll by no means ever be reported so it have to be unfold!” the poster wrote Oct. 4, utilizing an abbreviation for “as a result of.”
(Screenshot from Threads)
These posts had been flagged as a part of Meta’s efforts to fight false information and misinformation on its Information Feed. (Learn extra about our partnership with Meta, which owns Fb, Instagram and Threads.)
FEMA isn’t “confiscating” emergency provides or donations meant for Hurricane Helene survivors. Officers from FEMA and native leaders in states like Tennessee and North Carolina have denied these claims, warning that they impede catastrophe aid.
FEMA officers deny claims, warn they hinder catastrophe response
FEMA Press Secretary Daniel Llargues instructed PolitiFact that claims about FEMA confiscating emergency provides are false.
“We convey commodities to the state,” Llargues stated. “We hand them over to the state,” and the state distributes them.
In North Carolina, for instance, Llargues stated FEMA delivered provides to Raleigh, North Carolina, after which teams together with the North Carolina Air Nationwide Guard moved them to the state’s western finish.
“However FEMA taking, confiscating the provides — that’s one other rumor” with none factual foundation, he stated.
On Oct. 6, ABC Information’ “This Week” host George Stephanopoulos stated the falsehoods about FEMA have prompted on-line assaults on the company, comparable to one social media put up that stated “a militia ought to go in opposition to FEMA.”
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell instructed Stephanopoulos such assaults have been dangerous and demoralizing to FEMA employees, but additionally to first responders and native employees and volunteers.
“It has an incredible affect on the consolation stage of our personal workers to have the ability to go on the market,” she stated. “When you may have this harmful rhetoric such as you’re listening to, it creates worry in our personal workers, and we want to ensure we’re getting assist to the individuals who want it.”
FEMA additionally addressed this falsehood on its “Rumor Response” web page.
“FEMA doesn’t take donations and/or meals from survivors or voluntary organizations,” the company wrote. “Donations of meals, water, or different items are dealt with by voluntary companies who focus on storing, sorting, cleansing, and distributing donated gadgets.”
Native leaders say provides should not being ‘confiscated’
Throughout an Oct. 3 media briefing, Tennessee Gov. Invoice Lee, a Republican, was requested about rumors that FEMA, the Crimson Cross, or the Tennessee Emergency Administration Company funds had been turned away.
“That’s completely inaccurate,” Lee stated. “There’s quite a lot of misinformation — actually, there’s some perception and understanding that it might be coming from overseas sources simply to confuse on the bottom what’s taking place right here. There’s no confiscation of provides or of merchandise coming in by FEMA or TEMA.”
In X posts, Knox County, Tennessee, Mayor Glenn Jacobs, one other Republican, acknowledged frustration with FEMA and likewise inspired folks to “pitch in to assist” with out spreading misinformation concerning the emergency.
“To my information, FEMA, TEMA, nor anybody else is confiscating provides,” Jacobs wrote in an Oct. 4 X put up. “Please give up spreading these rumors as they’re counterproductive to response efforts.”
Two issues:
1) To my information, FEMA, TEMA, nor anybody else is confiscating provides. Please give up spreading these rumors as they’re counterproductive to response efforts.
2) If everybody might possibly please put apart the hate for a bit and pitch in to assist, that may be nice.— Glenn Jacobs (@GlennJacobsTN) October 4, 2024
North Carolina’s Division of Public Security additionally created a “Hurricane Helene: Reality vs. Rumor” webpage, the place it addressed the “rumor” that the state was “discouraging donations within the wake of Hurricane Helene” and “bodily donations are being confiscated by state and federal officers.”
The web page stated North Carolina encourages monetary donations and is “working with these organizations to face up logistical operations to coordinate the gathering and distribution of numerous bodily donations from throughout the state and nation.”
“Donations should not being confiscated by state and federal officers,” it stated.
In a video on that web page, Justin Granny, a North Carolina Emergency Administration spokesperson, stated misinformation can unfold rapidly on social media.
“For those who see one thing alarming, pause and confirm it via a trusted supply of data earlier than you share it,” he stated. “The very last thing we wish to do is unfold confusion throughout an already irritating time.”
This falsehood additionally circulated throughout earlier disasters, together with after Hawaii’s damaging and lethal 2023 Maui wildfires.
Our ruling
Fb posts claimed FEMA “is confiscating provides and donations” meant for Hurricane Helene survivors.
FEMA officers and native and state leaders in Tennessee and North Carolina stated these statements are baseless. FEMA delivers provides and donations to states; the states and state-designated teams ship the provides.
We charge these claims False.
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