FEMA forced to pause some operations in North Carolina over threats

FEMA HAS BEEN FORCED TO PAUSE AID TO SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HELENE… OVER REPORTS OF THREATS TO ITS RESPONDERS FOLLOWING MISINFORMATION BEING SPREAD ABOUT FEMA’S RESPONSE TO RECENT STORMS.

CERTAIN FEMA OPERATIONS WERE PAUSED IN ASHE COUNTY, NORTHEAST OF ASHEVILLE, OVER THE WEEKEND – IN WHAT THE SHERIFF THERE SAID WAS AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION.

THEY STOPPED IN-PERSON APPLICATIONS FOR AID AT AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS – BUT OPERATIONS WERE EXPECTED TO BE BACK TO NORMAL MONDAY.

TO THE SOUTHEAST OF ASHEVILLE – IN RUTHERFORD COUNTY – FEMA TEAMS AHD TO START WORKING FROM FIXED LOCATIONS INSTEAD OF GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR TO OFFER HELP… AFTER NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS REPORTED SEEING QUOTE “ARMED MILITIA” THREATENING FEMA WORKERS, ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY THE WASHINGTON POST.

FEMA SAYS ITS SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS WILL CONTINUE, BUT ITS DISASTER SURVIVOR ASSISTANCE TEAMS WILL KEEP WORKING AT FIXED LOCATIONS AND SECURE AREAS AS A PRECAUTION WHILE THE AGENCY ASSESSES POTENTIAL THREAT INFORMATION.