Aid efforts for communities ravaged by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina were temporarily paused over the weekend following reports of threats directed at Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) responders, CNN reports.
The incidents come amid a wave of misinformation surrounding the federal response to the recent storms.
In Ashe County, located near the Tennessee and Virginia borders, FEMA operations, including in-person applications for aid, were suspended on Sunday due to concerns about the safety of responders. This decision was made out of an abundance of caution, according to the county’s emergency management office. The assistance is expected to resume on Monday.
The decision to temporarily pause operations in Ashe County follows a similar incident in Rutherford County, southeast of Asheville, where FEMA workers were forced to cease door-to-door operations after reports that National Guard troops witnessed “armed militia” threatening FEMA personnel, according to The Washington Post.
The Post reports that FEMA teams shifted to operating from fixed locations instead of going door-to-door as a precautionary measure.
Misinformation about the federal response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton has significantly hindered relief efforts, as previously reported by CNN. In response, President Joe Biden last week requested information on the federal government’s digital response, specifically how officials are addressing the spread of misinformation.
Senior US officials have also instructed public affairs teams at federal agencies to increase social media activity from government accounts, showcasing photos of federal workers clearing debris and distributing aid.
